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15 June 2017

ARTE Info

Dutch military budget

For years the Dutch government has been decreasing the budget for the army. Over the last weeks more and more critics and complaints are passed on to the ministry of defence that there is not enough money anymore to perform the basic military tasks. There are even soldiers that complain about the lack of ammunition when they are on a mission. Reporter Antoine Mouteau interviews the chairman of the Dutch federation of military personnel stating that it is very severe and highly dangerous to be out of ammunition during a mission. He also does an anonymous interview with a Dutch soldier that is very unhappy with the current situation and a specialist of the Dutch institute of international relations Clingendael.

Activities: book and drive car, camera and sound.

16 March 2017

NHK News

Dutch general elections

The Japanese public broadcaster NHK is covering the Dutch general elections profoundly in a so-called 100 minute program Dutch society and culture is investigated intensively. Besides this extra reportages are produced about extreme right in the Netherlands, Wilders voters, Dutch Moroccans and the problems in Dutch elderly care. In the election week extra reportages are produced in The Hague. On election day Wilders I filmed during his vote and several live stand-up’s are transferred during the day, evening and following night. The morning after commuters on the The Hague central station give their views about the election results.

Are the Dutch right-wing populist or liberal?

After the recent escalation with Turkey the tension before the elections is particularly large: the right-wing populist Geert Wilders delivers a head-to-head race with the right-wing government division of Premier Marc Rutte. With his anti-Islamic and anti-EU course Wilders has led to a political turnaround in the former flagship country for liberality and tolerance. The fact that his right-wing slogans fall to fertile ground in the Netherlands, which is known for their openness, their progressive equality and liberal drug policies, astonished many. ORF Weltjournal reporter Alexander Steinbach has embarked on a journey through the Netherlands, analysing the political and social starting point before the elections, which could be directional for the whole of Europe.

Dutch general elections

TF1 reporter Liseron Boudoul is assigned to create a news reportage about the upcoming Dutch general elections. She visits campaigning activities of Geert Wilders and other PVV politicians in the small town Valkenburg in the far south of the country. Liseron interviews Geert Wilders and some PVV voters, she also meets Dutch Muslims at a food festival in Utrecht and in the West of Amsterdam. Emeritus professor in political science Meindert Fennema gives his views on Wilders and populism in the Netherlands. Video Link!

Activities: research, set-up, planning, accompany filming.

14 March 2017

ABC Nightline

Dutch general elections

A week before the Dutch general elections, Terry Moran the Foreign Europe Correspondent from the American TV-channel ABC, is visiting the Netherlands to cover campaigning activities of the right-wing ant-Islam politician Geert Wilders. Before France and Germany, the general elections in the Netherlands are the first test to see if and how populism might rule in Europe. Terry also meets a group of youngsters that is worried about the swing to the right and that talk to ordinary voters in shopping centres to discuss and understand the feelings of the Dutch voters.

Activities: research, advice and set-up.

14 March 2017

France 2 / 13 Heures

The temptation of populism

A France 2 news reportage about the upcoming Dutch general elections. The France2 crew visits the picturesque former fishing village Volendam. A place where traditionally many inhabitants vote for the Freedom Party from Geert Wilders. A fisherman and a pensioned man playing accordion explain why they vote PVV. Video Link!

Activities: organise replacement fixer.

13 March 2017

Channel 1 News

Dutch general elections

The news program of Channel One will cover the Dutch elections and especially the activities of Geert Wilders. Information on activities, debates and the date, time and location of the polling station where the PVV leader will votes is needed.

Activities: research and advice.

8 March 2017

SRF Rundschau

Geert Wilders Superstar

In Holland, Geert Wilders, one of the toughest opponents of Islam in Europe, will maybe soon be the winner of the Dutch elections. In the polls on March 15, his party is just behind the liberal VVD of prime minister Mark Rutte. Why is it that this lone wolf and the right-wing politician succeeds in inspiring so many Dutchmen? For the background program SRF Rundschau SRF Europe correspondent Sebastian Ramspeck visits the Netherlands to find out.Video Link!

Rise of populism in the Netherlands

For a news report for the France 3 program 19/20 on the Dutch elections reporter Pauline Armandet is looking for a Dutch citizen that supports the Party of Freedom of Geert Wilders. She visits the traditional bike repair shop of Frans van der Meer in the centre of Amsterdam to find out why Frans will vote for the PVV. Video Link!

Activities: research and set-up.

23 February 2017

DW Fokus Europa

Dutch citizens in debt

In the Dutch middle class the fear of decline is present. The dream of home ownership becomes a nightmare for many Dutch people and pulls down the whole country. The fate of over-indebted citizens is becoming an election campaign theme. For the DW TV-program Fokus Europa reporter Gunnar Köhne visits the Netherlands for a reportage about how the Dutch handle the problems people have with debts. He visits the North of Amsterdam and interviews people with debts and film at a centre where poor people in trouble are helped. At the local shopping centre people give their views and an spokesperson of a housing association explains how they handle rent arrears. Video Link!

Activities: organise replacement fixer.

22 February 2017

NHK Documentary

Dutch general elections

The Japanese public broadcaster NHK is covering the Dutch general elections profoundly in a so-called 100 minute program Dutch society and culture is investigated intensively. Besides this extra reportages are produced about extreme right in the Netherlands, Wilders voters, Dutch Moroccans and the problems in Dutch elderly care.

Activities: advice, research, set-up, planning, accompanying filming.

4 February 2017

SRF Tagesschau

Dutch preparing for winter sport

Every year thousands of Dutch tourists visit Switzerland for skiing vacation. But how to learn and prepare for skiing down the Alps in a country without mountains? The solution is indoor skiing ramps where the Dutch can prepare for the winter sport vacation. Because of the indoor skiing facilities the Dutch can fly down the snow slopes throughout the year. Reporter Henriette Engbersen visits Snow World in Zoetermeer and meets Dutch families preparing for winter sport in Switzerland. She also interviews representatives from the Dutch Ski Association and from the Swiss ski region Saas-Fee. Video Link!

Dutch general elections

The Russian private channel RenTV needs a cameraman/journalist to cover campaigning activities for the upcoming Dutch general elections.

Activities: organise replacement fixer, advice on camera persons.

20 January 2017

ORF Orientierung

Burka ban legislation

The Dutch lower house accepted new legislation to ban face covering clothing, also called the burka ban. Now the Dutch senate has to decide if this new legislation will be implemented. For the Austrian ORF program Orientierung Europe correspondent Cornelia Primosch visits the Netherlands to find out why the Dutch want to ban burkas and how it is received.

Activities: research.

18 January 2017

ARTE / Hikari

'If the dykes break'

The drama series 'If the dykes break' tells about a contemporary flood in the Netherlands and parts of Flanders. What will be left of the Netherlands if a serious flood will unfold? The drama series has been broadcasted in the Netherlands and in Flanders. ARTE Info reporter Antoine Mouteau interviews the producer of the series in Amsterdam. Video Link!

Activities: book and drive car, camera and sound.

14 January 2017

TG La7

Prostitution in the Netherlands

The Italian La7 discussion program Dimartedi discuss how prostitution is legalised abroad. Reporter Luca Santarelli is sent to Amsterdam to check out how a legalised prostitution branch works in practice and how professional prostitutes pay taxes. He covers the story in the Amsterdam Red Light District, and visits sex shows and interviews a prostitute at work behind a window, the spokeswoman of prostitute pressure group We Are Proud and visitors. Video Link!

Activities: organise replacement fixer.

9 January 2017

ARTE / Hikari

Dutch research after decolonisation Indonesia

The Dutch government decided there will be a new investigation into the violence in Indonesia in the late forties of the last century. Recently it became clear that Dutch soldiers used 'structural violence'. Not only the actions of the Dutch will be examined, but the researchers will also study to Bersiap period. That is a violent period in the Dutch East Indies by Indonesian independence fighters after the Japanese surrendered. ARTE Info reporter Antoine Mouteau visits the Dutch institute of war documentation and a Dutch woman that grew up in Indonesia during the period of decolonisation. Video Link!

Activities: book and drive car, camera and sound.

6 January 2017

TF1 News

Basic Income

Since a few years some Dutch municipalities want to start experiments with a basic income, but although legislation has been adjusted, the ministry of Social Affairs does not permit experiments to start yet.

Activities: research.

23 December 2016

SBG Full Measure

The rise of populism

After it became clear Donald Trump was elected as the next president of the United States, the American SBG Full Measure reporter Scott Thuman wants to find out how the populist vote might influence elections in Europe. The Dutch are the first European state that hold national elections on March 15, 2017. Scott Thuman visits the Dutch parliament for an interview with Geert Wilders and his opposite MP Alexander Pechtold. Emeritus Professor of political science Meindert Fennema gives his views on Wilders and his political movement the Freedom Party (PVV). Scott also visits the former fishers town Volendam where the PVV traditionally gets a lot of votes. In a community centre some elderly playing cards explain for what party they will vote and why. Video Link!

Equal chances on European schools

After research it runs out that migrant pupils score pretty good in the Dutch education system. Euronews Insider reporter Hans von der Brelie visits the Netherlands to find out what more about the Dutch formula. He visits a primary and secondary school in the Dutch city of Nijmegen. He interviews pupils, teachers, headmasters, the alderman of education of Nijmegen and a specialist in the success of Dutch schools. It turns out that pupils in the Netherlands get a lot personal attention, teachers have a lot of freedom and schools are very innovative. Video Link! Text Link!

Sony Twitter campaign

During Champions League football matches Sony launches a Twitter campaign called the 'Champions Sofa' promoting the Sony Experia smart phone, showing supporters on their sofa at home during all the matches. Firecracker Films produces the footage and WorldFixer.com organises the fixers to find fans and crews, and to accompany and direct the filming. In the small town Nederwetten, near Eindhoven, Han and his close friends support PSV that plays a Champions League match against Atletico Madrid. With a Sony A7S Camera the supporters are filmed. The footage is streamed via a LiveU box to Firecracker Films in Londen.

Plan for new help with suicide legislation

After the Dutch government made clear that they intend to come up with new legislation for help with suicide for people that want to die. The Dutch current euthanasia legislation only works for people that are seriously ill and physically suffer severely, but there are people that are ready with life and that want to decide about their own ending of life. After covering the new Dutch euthanasia legislation in 2001, ORF Weltjournal reporter Alexander Steinbach visits the Netherlands again to find out why the Dutch want to make new Euthanasia legislation.

Sony Twitter campaign

'See and share the tension, the joy, the relief and disbelief as you watch followers of the UEFA Champions League react to the action in living rooms across Europe'. During Champions League football matches Sony launches a Twitter campaign promoting the Sony Experia smart phone, showing supporters on their sofa at home during all the matches. Firecracker Films produces the footage and WorldFixer.com organises the fixers to find fans and crews, and to accompany and direct the filming. In the small town Nederwetten, near Eindhoven, Han and his close friends support PSV that plays a Champions League match against Bayer Munich. With a Sony A7S Camera the supporters are filmed. The footage is streamed via a LiveU box to Firecracker Films in Londen.

Geert Wilders trial

For the coverage of the first day of trial again Dutch politician Geert Wilders about the remarks he made about Dutch Moroccan citizens during campaigning for the local elections in 2014, The New York Times reporter Nina Siegal needs translations and background information. Wilders is suspected of insulting a group of people based on race and inciting discrimination and hatred. This is because of his statements about Moroccans on 12 and 19 March 2014 in The Hague.

Activities: research and organise fixer.

18 October 2016

BBC4

The Art Lovers Guide documentary

The BBC’s Arts production team is making a new series art documentaries with the title The Art Lovers Guide. In the series art historians Janina Ramirez and Alastair Sooke that will visit different cites to explore its cultural and artistic identity. Besides discovering unexpected aspects of some iconic works of art, architecture, literature and performance, the BBC will be focusing on some of the hidden artistic and cultural treasures that most visitors would never know about. During the edit of the Amsterdam episode it turns out extra shots and aerial footage of the centre of Amsterdam and the canals is needed.

European beauty contests

Paolo Marchetti is an award and grant winning independent photographer based in Rome, Italy. In his photography Paolo has always paid particular attention to political and anthropological issues and has embarked upon a freelance career to focus on a combination of long-term personal projects and client assignments. Now he is working on a European series of beauty contests for young girls, but also for aged body builders. In the Netherlands Paolo wants to make a reportage of a beautiy contest of young migrants girls.

Activities: research and set-up.

30 September 2016

RenTV

Presentation criminal MH17 report

On 28 September the Joint Investigation Team organised a meeting with the press to present the first results of the criminal investigation into the crash of flight MH17. This press conference took place following the meeting with the relatives in the morning. They were the first to be informed about the results of the investigation. RenTV reporter Vitaliy Khanin is sent to the The Netherlands to report on the presentation of the new MH17 report and its conclusions.

Activities: research, set-up, organise replacement fixer.

29 September 2016

SRF Tagesschau

Presentation criminal MH17 report

On 28 September the Joint Investigation Team organised a meeting with the press to present the first results of the criminal investigation into the crash of flight MH17. This press conference took place following the meeting with the relatives in the morning. They were the first to be informed about the results of the investigation. SRF reporter Henriette Engbersen is send to the Netherlands to produce a news reportage that is broadcasted on the evening before the press conference. She meets relatives and a specialised newspaper journalist to find out what they expect from the investigation. On the day of the press conference Henriette has to do live stand-ups and a quick interview with relatives after they are informed on the conclusions needs to be done and filmed.

The Art Lovers Guide documentary

The BBC’s Arts production team is making a new series, called The Art Lovers Guide. The series is presented by art historians Janina Ramirez and Alastair Sooke, and in each episode we will visit a different city to explore its cultural and artistic identity. As well as discovering unexpected aspects of some iconic works of art, architecture, literature and performance, the BBC will be focusing on some of the hidden artistic and cultural treasures that most visitors would never know about. The aim is to get beyond the usual 'top ten must-see' lists, and offer an enjoyable, insider’s guide to what you could discover during a day in three extraordinary cities: Barcelona, Amsterdam and St Petersburg. The three documentaries of an hour will showcase contemporary and historic work in order to capture the spirit of the arts scene in each city today.

Corporate film interview

For a corporate film advertisement company The Packshot looks for a Dutch camera person that works with a DSLR camera and knows how to film with a green screen background.

Activities: research to find skilful camera persons.

19 July 2016

Warner Bros. Australia / SBS

Who Do You Think You Are?

'Who Do You Think You Are?' is an Australian television documentary reality series, part of the international franchise and adaptation of the original British series on BBC, airing on SBS One. Each episode profiles a celebrity tracing their family tree. In this episode Australian actress Rachel Griffiths is taken to the places where her ancestors lived and worked in London, the Dutch city Leiden and the German town Kleve. Griffiths's journey into the past takes her back to the re-emergence of Judaism in 17th century England. She discovered that her eight-time grandfather was one of the best known Jewish capitalists in London - associated with the Royal Exchange, the Bank of England, and the British East India Company. But his business interests extended further afield, and Rachel learns he was engaged in the international slave trade.

The Netherlands after Brexit

After the in-depth coverage before the Brexit referendum, NHK Europe correspondent Kaori Nagao plans a report on the effects of the Brexit on the Dutch society and economy.

Activities: research and set-up.

29 June 2016

ORF Weltjournal

After Brexit

Straight after it became clear that a majority voted for the UK to leave the European Union reporter Patrick Hafner visits the Netherlands to find out how Euro sceptic the Dutch are, what they think of the Brexit and how large the chance of a Nexit will be. He meets Dutch citizens in the Euro sceptic village Volendam, Euro sceptic activists of the organisation Asylum Seekers Alert, Euro sceptic Thierry Baudet and political analyst Otto Holman.

Brexit and EU scepticism

The Japanese public broadcaster NHK is seriously covering the upcoming Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom. They produce both a documentary as background- and news reportages. Apart from reporting from England, NHK is also visiting Denmark and the Netherlands, because they are known for their Euro scepticism. The Dutch voted against a EU treaty with Ukraine in a referendum earlier this year. Europe correspondent Kaori Nagao and Chihiro Tanaka a special reporter from Japan follow Euro sceptic Thierry Baudet and visit the debates at his Forum for Democracy. On the side the meet followers and Euro sceptic shop owners in Amsterdam.

Patrouille Suisse jet crashes

After two Swiss Air Force F-5's belonging to the Patrouille Suisse aerobatic display team collided during a practice display at Leeuwarden air base, in the Netherlands, the Swiss TV channel SRF need facts and footage. One of the Tiger jets managed to land in spite of the damages whereas the other aircraft crashed. Fortunately, the pilot was able to eject from the plane suffering only few cuts and bruises.

Activities: research.

31 May 2016

NHK News

Nuclear fears over Belgium power plants

People in the Netherlands and Germany are becoming more and more worried about the bad state of the two Belgian nuclear power plants in Tihange and Doel. Together with the German city Aachen, the Dutch city Maastricht even started a court case to demand closure of the nuclear power plant in Tihange. After the nuclear disaster in Fukushima in March 2011, the Japanese broadcaster NHK send Brussels correspondent Kaori Nagao to the two nuclear power plants, a Dutch couple just living close to the nuclear plant in Doel and to a demonstration against the plants in Maastricht to report about the unrest and fears.

Activities: research, set-up, planning and accompany filming.

29 May 2016

TF1 News

Brexit in Maastricht

On June 23 a referendum will be held to decide if the United Kingdom will step out of the European Union. French senior international correspondent Guillaume Debre from the first French TV channel TF1 visits the Dutch city Maastricht to find out how Eurosceptic the Dutch are. Maastricht was the place where the treaty of Maastricht was signed in 1992. A treaty to integrate Europe and to create a single European currency, the Euro. Debre takes a look at Mosa, a company that produces tiles and took to the CEO. He interviews the mayor of Maastricht, a Eurosceptic politician and café owner.

Mermaid swim course

A portrait of Pleuni, a Dutch girl of 12 years old that takes part in an unique mermaid swim course given by her mother, swimming instructress Jolanda. In four weeks the course members learn how it is to swim as a mermaid, to develop the mermaid swim technique and how to safely use the mermaid tail. After passing the final test the participants will receive a mermaid diploma. Pleuni also shows her house, room and takes the viewers to her school, where she and her classmates get a theatre lesson preparing for a stage play. Video Link!

Activities: camera and sound.

9 May 2016

&Bromet

Anti discrimination campaign

Through an advertising agency the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs assigned production company &Bromet to produce a series of online 60 seconds anti-discrimination videos. The series title is 'Cross out discrimination'. The purpose of the short films is to show that employers can overcome their doubts and prejudices and set an example. Because both workers and employers in these movies are belonging to a discriminated group it will strengthen the credibility of the online videos. The target groups that will be portrayed are: elderly, pregnant women, Muslims, coloured people, lesbians and gays and people with disabilities.

Activities: research.

6 May 2016

ARTE Info

100 years Amsterdamse School

The most famous architectural style of Dutch origin is called the Amsterdam School (Amsterdamse School), and 2016 marks 100 years since the distinctive style began to transform the face of Amsterdam and the lives of the people within it. Entire neighbourhoods in the Dutch capital from the 1910s and 1920s were built in this style, with the Grand Hotel Amrâth as the most visible example in downtown Amsterdam. Video Link!

Activities: camera & sound.

5 April 2016

SRF Tagesschau

The EU-Ukraine treaty referendum

On April 6 The Netherlands goes to the polls to take part in a referendum on whether or not the cabinet should support the EU’s treaty of association with Ukraine. The evening before the referendum the Swiss news broadcasts a reportage about the referendum. One of the initiators from the shock-blog Geen Stijl explains why they gathered the signatures to make the referendum possible, before a debate the participants explain why they are in favour or against the treaty and a scientist concludes that the referendum actually has more to do about Europe.

Europe’s tough task of resettling refugees

The Euronews program Reporter produces an extensive reportage about existing differences and problems across Europe to integrate recognized refugees successfully into the labour market. What are the obstacles to find professional recognition, is talent wasted because highly-qualified refugees are not finding a job at their level, are there problems to adapt to the western society, is there enough support by public institutions to integrate? Euronews reporter Hans von der Brelie makes two portraits of well-educated refugees in Germany and the Netherlands doing their best to find qualified work and to integrate in society.

Part-time work in the Netherlands

In France there is a debate about work time and competitiveness. There are a lot of political and economic critics against the 35 hour-week, which may destroy the competitiveness of French companies. But are the French employees working enough? The Dutch have a very short working week of 30 hours per week on average. The reason? Partial time is widespread with more than one employee in two in the country working part-time. France2 reporter Magali Boissin visits the Netherlands to make a portrait of a part-time employee working at job site company Monsterboard and of Yorrick a part-time salesman of a clothing company that would love to work full time, but does not get the possibility because he becomes too expensive for the employer.

Activities: research, set-up, planning, accompany filming.

16 February 2016

Ren TV

MH17 criminal investigation

On July 17th 2014 Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 crashed in eastern Ukraine. On board were 283 passengers and 15 crew members. Among the passengers were 196 Dutch nationals. The Joint Investigation Team (JIT), the Netherlands Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Dutch National Police, the police and judicial authorities of Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine are executing a criminal investigation to establish the facts, identify those responsible for the crash and to collect evidence which can be used in court. Ren TV reporter Vitaliy Kahin meets relatives of the crash victims and a journalist to find out what they expect of the investigation and the outcome.

Activities: research, set-up, planning, driving, accompany filming.

11 February 2016

Deutsche Welle

The Dutch tax paradise

The Netherlands is a tax paradise for many international companies like Ikea, Starbucks and pop stars like The Rolling Stones and U2. They transfer money to the Netherlands in order to hide away from the taxes in the countries where the money was earned. In the first half of 2016 the Netherlands is chairman of the EU. One of the spearheads of the Dutch government is to urge on a durable and robust Eurozone. The actual fact that the Dutch are known to be a tax paradise for multinationals undermines this goal and the credibility of the Dutch government. The German International Channel Deutche Welle plans a reportage about it and needs an idea what is possible.

Activities: research.

28 January 2016

TF1

Amsterdam budget trip reportage

TF1 produces a series of travel reportages to show that it is possible to visit cities in Europe for a good price. In Amsterdam reporter Axel Cariou rents a bike, visits the Rijksmuseum, some traditional cafes and the daily Albert Cup market. He views some original hotels, eats herring from the tail and has a Dutch dinner in a restaurant.

Activities: research and planning.

27 January 2016

TF1 News

Aalsmeer flower auction

For a news reportage to be broadcasted around Valentine's Day the news program from the first French TV channel TF1 produce a reportage about the Flora Holland flower auction in Aalsmeer. French buyers are portrayed while they check the quality and buy of flowers. They explain how the enormous amounts are processed every day and that the numbers double around Valentine's Day. After the auction the flowers are packaged and loaded into trucks to leave for the wholesale market Rungis near Paris, form where the flowers will be distributed in Paris and France.

Activities: research, set-up, planning, accompaniment filming.

19 January 2016

SRF Rundschau

Human traffickers active around refugee centres

There are signs that human traffickers are active close to refugee centres in the Netherlands attempting to recruit young women as prostitutes. In the past dozens of young, unaccompanied asylum seekers disappeared from refugee centres and are thought to have ended up in the hands of people traffickers.

Activities: research.

14 January 2016

Der Spiegel

Utrecht plans basic income experiment

The Dutch city Utrecht takes a step towards paying people a salary whether they work or not by allowing small groups of benefit claimants to be paid £660 a month – and keep any earnings they make from work on top of that. Their monthly pay will not be means-tested. They will instead have the security of that cash every month, and the option to decide whether they want to add to that by finding work.

Activities: research, set up and advice.

11 January 2016

ARTE Info / Hikari

Donald Trump's bad business in the Netherlands

Donald Trump and the Netherlands, it is not a good combination. The man who turn's American politics upside down these days did some loss-making business in the Netherlands. All involved investors and companies lost their money. And they never heard from Trump since.

Activities: filming, advice, driving.

8 January 2016

Der Spiegel

The story of the aggressive owl

Last year the owl that attacked people in Purmerend became world news. Der Spiegel reporter Ralf Hoppe visits the Netherlands to write an article about what the owl did to the city and its inhabitants. Although many were victim of the owl attacks there is large support for a pettion to release the wild bird in nature. Although the owl is a protected animal, it is not allowed to set the owl free if it has been born in captivity.

Activities: research, set up and advice.

9 December 2015

Nordisk / SBS Discovery

Synthetic drugs production

Nordisk Film TV produces the crime documentary series Eftersøgt (Wanted), aired by broadcaster SBS Discovery on the Danish TV channel Kanal 5. The series investigates fugitives wanted by Danish police via Interpol. One of them is an American that supposed to be connected to the production of synthetic drugs in the Netherlands. In February 2011 a location in the south of the Netherlands was raided and the precursors for the production of synthetic drugs were found. Research needs to be done after the English fugitive, the scene of the crime and interviews with the Dutch authorities about the raid need to be se-up.

Activities: research.

2 December 2015

BBC Scotland/Eorpa

Innovation in elderly care

Over the last years Dutch innovative initiatives in elderly care attracted worldwide attention. The BBC Scotland program Eorpa produces a background reportage about the phenomena and covers three innovations. An old people’s home from Humanitas in Deventer offers free housing for students in exchange for 30 hours of assistance per month to bring the energy of younger generations in the centre. Hogewijk, a centre for people growing demented in Weesp, created a closed village where the residents can freely move around. There is a supermarket, restaurant, café, theatre, hairdresser and other shops. The residents live in life style group apartments where the interior and way of living corresponds with their cultural background. Buurtzorg (Neighbourhood care) is a totally decentralised national organisation of district nurses without managers and planners. Small local teams manage themselves with the use of innovative applications. The care organisation is so successful that it is introduced everywhere in the world.

European Broadband Award

The CAI Herderwijk Project in The Netherlands used a participatory process -pro-actively stimulating demand for high-speed connectivity in the local community. It also developed a detailed map inventorying existing ducts in civil infrastructures and town works planned by local municipalities as well as by energy companies operating in the area. CAI Herderwijk received the European Broadband Award in the category Open access and Competition. The European Broadband Awards competition is organized by the European Commission and showcase best practices to many project promoters across Europe. Produced and directed by Ángel Varela Pena.

Activities: filming.

6 November 2015

YLE News

Dutch climate stories

The Finish public broadcaster YLE is producing a series of international climate stories to transmit and publish during the Paris Climate Summit 2015. Foreign correspondent Maria Tolsa also visits the Netherlands to see how the Dutch cope with the changing climate. She visits a Room for the River location in the Dutch delta where land is prepared for flooding and farms and houses were put on higher grounds and walks along with the Climate Miles walk to Paris by the Dutch environmental pressure group Urgenda. On the island Texel a story is produced about salt potatoes that can be cultivated with salt water and in Rotterdam YLE covers the efforts that are made to fight the increasing rainfall. Maria visits the water square that can function as a water storage and a farm on a rooftop that promotes green rooftops because they retain rain water.

Activities: research, advice, set-up, planning, accompanying filming.

22 October 2015

SRF 10vor10/Tagesschau

Foreigners in Dutch jails

Since a few years the Dutch are renting out jails to states like Belgium and Norway. Since there are rumours that Switzerland is also interested, Swiss TV wants to produce a background reportage about the Norwegian jail in the Netherlands. At the same time Swiss research comes out that concludes that imprisoning Swiss people in the Netherlands might not be such a good idea.

Presentation of the MH17 report

On the day of the official presentation of the MH17 airplane disaster by the Dutch Safety Board, reporter Henriette Engbersen attends the presentation and does live stand-ups. Silene and Rob Fredriksz, who lost their son and his girlfriend, give their views before and after the presentation of the report.

Before the MH17 report

A day before the research after the MH17 airplane disaster will be presented, reporter Henriette Engbersen is visiting the Netherlands to check out what people expect for a Swiss TV news report. A specialised journalist and people give their views about the airplane that very probably was shot out of the sky with an anti-aircraft missile.

The Wonderful world of Gordon Watson

Gordon Watson is recognised as one of the world's leading authorities of 20th Century design. He says he was always destined to work in antiques having caught the ‘dealer bug' at a young age. For BBC 2 Gordon is followed while he is in the Netherlands visiting leading Dutch designers and art dealers. Very excited about the meetings with the designers, and even more about their designs Gordon Watson travels through the Netherlands to buy Dutch design for specific clients, for his shop in London or just for himself.

Activities: research, advice, set-up and planning, book and drive rental van, accompany filming, boom audio at some of the interviews.

8 September 2015

NHK News

Dairy crisis

European agricultural ministers are holding emergency talks about the problems European farmers have with the decreasing prices for agricultural products.NHK Europe correpondent Kaori Nagao produces a reportage about a small Belgian dairy farmer that will demonstrate in Brussels to get financial support from the EU and a portrait of Dutch dairy farmer Jan Jonkman. He has enlarged his farm seriously to be prepared for the moment the milk quotum was lifted earlier this year. Jonkman is buying more cows and is looking at the long term and expects exports to grow anyway. He takes the NHK correspondent to the cooperative dairy factory nearby to show how many different cheeses they produce for the world market.

Sail Amsterdam 2015

Sail Amsterdam is the largest free public event in the world. Its inaugural edition took place in 1975 as part of celebrations marking Amsterdam’s 700th jubilee. At the heart of this internationally renowned event is an immense flotilla of Tall Ships, maritime heritage, naval ships and impressive replicas. The ninth Sail Amsterdam commenced with a parade of around fifty Tall Ships accompanied by hundreds of small boats during the trip from IJmuiden to Amsterdam. Hundreds of thousands of people watched the spectacle from ashore or in accompanying boats. NHK Europe correspondent Kaori Nagao is present to cover the Sail In parade, the opening of the nautic event.

The Netherlands: Don Quixote against wind energy

From the 16th till the 19th century the Netherlands was 'wind power world champion' with more than 10,000 windmills. Today the Dutch are stay-behinds because in the use of renewable energies the country is ranked 26th among the 28 EU countries. The government wants to change that and increase the renewable share of 4% to 14%, the EU target for 2020. But against almost all onshore wind power projects there is resistance from residents - one group is even called Don Quixote - and there are also protests against big offshore projects. Rixt de Boer, chairwoman of a foundation that fights the construction of the largest onshore wind park in the Netherlands, takes reporter Sebastian Ramspeck to large wind turbines to explain what the problem is. Marjan Minnesma, the director of Urgenda an organisation that strives for a durable and circular economy, explains why all forms of durable energy are needed to be able to change around the system in 20 years. At the historic Zaanse Schans footage is recorded of Dutch traditional windmills in action.

Austria investigates Wilders

After the public prosecution department in Austria launched an investigation into a speech made by Dutch anti-Islam campaigner Geert Wilders in Vienna, ORF wants an interview with the PVV politician. Wilders made the speech in March to members of the Austrian far-right party FPÖ. In the speech, he compared the Koran to Hitler’s book Mein Kampf and said Europe is at war with Islam.

Activities: research, request interview.

7 July 2015

France2 News

Vox pops on possible Grexit

After the majority of the Greeks voted 'no' in the referendum about the possible financial rescue of Greece by Europe and the IMF, the news program 20 Heures of the public French TV channel France2 wants the opinion of some citizens in Europe, including the Netherlands.

Activities: filming and interviewing Dutch people in the centre of Amsterdam, interviews and general views.

24 June 2015

SRF Tagesschau

One year after the MH17 disaster

Soon it will be a year ago that the dramatic crash of the MH17 took place in the east of Ukraine. Reporter Henriette Engbersen got the assignment to make a reportage about the ongoing research after the cause of the crash by Dutch media and the Dutch Safety Board and about the relatives of the victims. Some of the relatives still could not organise a funeral because they are not sure if the body parts that were found of their loved ones are all identified. Video Link! Article Link!

Portrait Dijsselbloem

Because the president of the Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem is in the media daily negotiating with Greece to find a solution for the financial problems, Swiss correspondent Sebastian Ramspeck want to make a portrait of the Dutch finance minister.

Activities: research, request at Dutch ministry of Finance.

17 June 2015

SRF

Waterloo Uncovered

Traumatised British veterans helped by looking for remains of the battle of Waterloo. Archaeology as therapy for British veterans that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and ended up with a post-traumatic stress syndrome. An ambitious charity project that started this months will put traumatised veterans at work together with archaeologists to refine the historiography of the famous battle of Waterloo and to help the soldiers to recover and give them meaning in life again.

Activities: research and set-up.

5 June 2015

Schönith Media

Camera team for corporate video

For a conference in the Amsterdam RAI Convention Centre the German marketing and production company Schonith Media needs a camera team to film in Amsterdam for promotion film to be shown on a trade fair. Senior executives of participating companies meet each other and cross Amsterdam in a carrier tricycle passing known landmarks.

Activities: research, organise quotes, organise camera team.

15 May 2015

France 5 / C dans l’air

Migrant statistics

The discussion program C dans l’air from the 5th French public channel debates about a French mayor that admits that his municipalities keeps statistics per migrant group, something that is not done in the French republic. Reporter Maxime Vautier is send to the Netherlands to report about how the Dutch keep detailed statistics per ethnic group. Some criticise this and say it is racist, others say it helps fighting problems in the different ethnic groups. One thing gets very clear, in a society that becomes more and more multi-cultural it becomes more and more difficult to make a distinction between natives and migrants, or autochthonous and allochthonous, as the Dutch call it.

Legal Highs

The next Euronews discussion program On The Front Line will be about legal highs and will be broadcasted on 4th of June, the day that the European Drug Agency will publish its annual report. Despite many EU countries imposing bans on these substances they continue to pose significant health risks to users as the active ingredients are not always known and frequently change to get around government restrictions.

Activities: research and advice.

1 May 2015

TF1 News

Abuse by UN peace keepers: Interview Paula Donovan

Hungry, homeless young boys in the Central African Republic were forced by French UN soldiers to perform sex acts on them in return for food or money. Sources close to the case said UN Aid worker Anders Kompass passed the document to the French authorities because of the UN’s failure to take action to stop the abuse. The internal report on the sexual exploitation was passed to media by Paula Donovan, of the advocacy group Aids Free World, who is demanding an independent commission inquiry into the UN’s handling of sexual abuse by peacekeepers. Donovan, the co-director of AIDS-Free World, said: 'The regular sex abuse by peacekeeping personnel uncovered here and the United Nations’ appalling disregard for victims are stomach-turning, but the awful truth is that this isn’t uncommon.' The France2 news needs an interview with Paula Donovan.

Activities: research, interview, camera, sound, FTP video material.

27 April 2015

Euronews Reporter

The need for reduction of antibiotics in cattle farming

The Netherlands is the forerunner in Europe in the reduction of the use of antibiotics in intensive cattle farming. The densely populated country is the second largest agricultural exporter in the world and this has its negative effects on public health. Lately local doctors have warned the Dutch authorities that multi-resistant bacteria occur more often at farmers and people that live nearby the farms. And a study by a Dutch research institute that has been published recently concludes that there is a direct relation between the stench and the health of the local population surrounding the farms. A Dutch pig farmer decided to develop the farm of the future, a durable farm where a minimum of energy is used and pigs are forced to go to their toilet by innovative floors that are cooled and heated. The manure is processed in a durable way and used to produce energy. This all results in much happier pigs and no need any more of antibiotics. An important example because it is predicted that the use of antibiotics in intensive farming will rise with 70% worldwide in the upcoming years.

Activities: research, set-up.

17 April 2015

France 2 News

Dutch jail system

After it becomes clear that after Belgian detainees also Norwegian detainees will be locked up in the Netherlands, the French public broadcaster France2 comes to the Netherlands to film for a reportage about Dutch jails. The goal of the reportage is to find out why the Dutch close so many jails and still have loads of empty cells and to see what the differences are with the French jails. The filming takes place in the Dordrecht jail. The jail director, the head of the rehabilitation department and an inmate are interviewed. It becomes clear that the Dutch treat prisoners like human beings and prepare them as well as possible for life after imprisonment by offering courses and education, including certificates, and giving them restricted access to internet to find housing and jobs.

Lifting of EU milk quota

On April 1, the 31 year old European milk quota is lifted. Swiss TV broadcasts a news reportage from the Netherlands, the second largest dairy producer and exporter in the world. Two Dutch dairy farmers give their views about the new situation. A small scale farmer that fears the future because milk prices might decrease due to over production, and a farmer that has expanded his farm to be ready for unlimited milk production. Video Link!

Interview chairman German Airline Pilots Association

After it comes out that the German Wings plane was crashed into the French Alps deliberately, ABC News wants an interview with the chairman of the German Airline Pilots Association James Phillips about the latest news. James Phillips is accidentally in the Netherlands to meet his Dutch colleagues, so a Dutch producer/cameraman is needed. The interview is done at the Dutch Airline Pilots Association using the speaker phone of a mobile phone.

Aggressive owl attacks residents

In Purmerend, a small town north of Amsterdam, an aggressive eagle owl (Oehoe in Dutch) is attacking residents for weeks. Often the bird of prey hides out in a complex for mental handicapped. It has attacked dozens of times, usually at the start of the evening. It fly’s in from behind and hit the person on the head. Victims stated that it feel like you are hit by a brick. Since the eagle owl is a protected species the city hall has asked for a special permit to catch the aggressive animal. After the ‘terror owl’ becomes world news, the news program from the French public TV channel France2 wants video footage and interviews. Video Link!

Reduction of antibiotics on pig farms

In Switzerland it is decided to seriously start reducing the use of antibiotics on pig farms. The Dutch are famous for the extensive cattle breeding and for the reduction of antibiotics use. Since a few years they are even trying to achieve the antibiotics free breeding of cattle. A knowledge network funded by the ministry of Economic affairs has been cooperating with a group of durable pig farmers. Hans Verhoeven is the initiator and even developed his farm of the future. Through all kinds of technical innovation his farm is close to being antibiotics free. The pigs need a good and clean climate to live in, clear water and a happy life. Video Link!

Disturbed armed man demands air time On Dutch TV

The day after a disturbed armed 19 year old man entered the studios of the Dutch public news program NOS Journaal to demand air time, the France2 news program wants some interviews with Dutch people about the incident.

Armed man demands air time in Dutch news program

An armed man walked into the editorial offices of the Dutch public TV news program NOS Journaal just before 20.00 hours demanding broadcasting time. The man was directed to an empty studio and after this the personnel warned the police. A little later the intruder was arrested by the police.

Activities: research & advice.

22 January 2015

France2 News

Program for returning jihadists

The correspondent from the French channel France2 want to know if it is true that the Dutch have set-up programs for returning extremist fighters from Syria and Iraq. Previously it has been in the news that the Dutch, apart from surveillance and prosecution, also have programs to receive extremist fighters to help them getting back in society by organising housing, a job or education. After the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris it has become clear that these returning fighters have become a serious threat that needs all sorts of extra attention, including the softer and non-legal approach.

Activities: research.

19 January 2015

SRF Tagesschau

The largest vessel in the world

On January 8 the 'Pioneering Spirit', the largest vessel in the world arrived in the Rotterdam harbour. The ship will be docked in Alexia harbour, where the final assembly will take place. The 65 metre long beams of the topsides lift system will be installed on the vessel during the first months of 2015. The Pioneering Spirit is 382 metres long and 124 metres wide and will be able to lift complete oil rigs, and will be used to lay cables on the sea bed. It is expected the Pioneering Spirit will be completed in March and will leave Rotterdam in April to start offshore operations in the North Sea in the summer of 2015.

Activities: research.

5 January 2015

SRF Sternstunde Musik

Barbara Hannigan interview

One day before the English conductor Simon Rattle celebrates his 60th birthday on the 19th of January, Swiss TV broadcasts the Rachmaninov and Strawinksky concert Rattle conducted at the Lucerne Festival in the summer of 2014. Additional to the concert the program SRF Sternstunde Musik broadcasts a short film about Simon Rattle. Some musicians that are close to him will talk about their relation, cooperation and about Simon Rattle himself. One of the interview partners is Barbara Hannigan, one of the most famous sopranos specialized in modern music. She has done numerous concerts with Simon Rattle as a singer. Barbara Hannigan lives in Amsterdam, an interview is needed at short notice.

Norwegian prisoners in Dutch jails

Norway has more convicted prisoners than prison beds, and the Netherlands has more prison guards than prisoners. For a while Belgium is already using a Dutch jail to lock up Belgian inmates in Tilburg, and now the Norwegian and Dutch prison departments made a deal to move inmates from Norway to a jail in Veenhuizen in the north east of the Netherlands. First negotiations need to take place and a treaty has to be signed. The Norwegian second TV channel TV2 needs a camera crew in Veenhuizen and set-up services are needed for the production of a background reportage in the Netherlands as soon as the treaty is signed.

Activities: research and set-up.

20 November 2014

France 2 News

Dutch mum rescues daughter from Islamic State

After it becomes clear that the Dutch mother Monique managed to rescue her daughter Aïcha from IS in Syria, the news program from the French public TV channel France2 wants to make a reportage about the spectacular escape. When it turns out that mother Monique does not communicate with media anymore, and the Dutch authorities do not allow her lawyer to talk to the media, research needs to be done after video archive footage.

Activities: research.

3 November 2014

SRF 10 vor 10

Building a house with a 3D printer

Three dimensional printing starts to play a role in the future of architecture. In Switzerland a university is investing in new innovative construction techniques, while in Amsterdam a canal house is constructed with a huge homemade 3d printer. It seems 3d printing will change architecture and construction totally. With a few printers at location one can build a complete house, eliminating waste, cutting on transport costs and high level of detail is no longer more expensive. It will no longer be cheaper to have things produced in faraway countries like China. The design and construction of the 3D print canal house is an experiment to learn more about and develop the technique. Swiss reporter Fritz Muri comes to Amsterdam to discover and cover this revolutionary development.

Activities: research and set-up.

18 October 2014

Euronews On The Front Line

Human trafficking in Europe

After European Commission published the latest report on human trafficking, the debate program Euronews On The Front line will produce a program on the subject. Since the largest group of victims of human trafficking is women in the prostitution branch a reportage with a portrait of a victim and the views of people in the field is needed. Logic location is the Amsterdam Red Light District. Since most of the women working behind the window in the Netherlands are coming from the east of Europe, it is eventually decided to produce the reportage from that part of the European Union.

Activities: research and set-up.

11 October 2014

Kazakh TV

Netherlands - Kazakhstan football match

The football teams of Kazakhstan and the Netherlands meet in the Amsterdam Arena stadium for the second qualification match for the European Championships in France in 2016. Kazakh TV wants a report to find out what Kazakh and Dutch supporters expect from the game and what their predictions are. After the match the Kazakh supporters are proud of their team. They managed to score a goal and it took the Dutch till the 60iest minute to score. Although the Dutch won with 3-1, the Kazakh supporters are proud of their heroes. They managed quite well to withstand the attacks from the team that ended third in the last World Cup. Video Link!

Jaguar Corporate Film

For car manufacturer Jaguar Shine TV produces a series of commercials. For one of the commercials research needs to be done after routes and locations in the North of France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Activities: research locations and routes.

5 October 2014

ZDF/EcoMedia

Pearls of the Wadden Sea

Besides fishing and selling fish and oysters on Dutch organic markets and to restaurants, durable fisherman and fish dealer Jan Geertsema also sells Wadden Sea oysters on European food fairs. On the 'Markt des Guten Geschmacks' the Slow Food food fair in Stuttgart in April 2013 Jan Geertsema opens and sells an oyster to a young boy. It turns out the oyster contains a large wild oyster, at least worth €. 1.000,= Since the oyster is already sold the pearl belongs to the buyer. The unique find becomes national news and the Hamburg based production house Eco Media decides to produce a story about the Wadden Sea oysters and fisherman Jan for the German program ZDF Terra Xrpess. Video Link!

Activities: research, set-up, planning

18 September 2014

France2 News

Dutch authorities pay fines

In the Netherlands the authorities are obliged to react on a request or an appeal to make official documents public within 28 days and an extra four weeks, otherwise the municipality, ministry, but also the police and the tax office will have to pay a fine. Especially municipalities are flooded with requests and since there is often not enough time to react many cases have to be compensated. The maximum fine is €. 1260,=

Activities: research.

17 September 2014

Matchlight / BBC1

Audrey Hepburn documentary

For BBC 1 the production house Matchlight is asked to produce a documentary about the famous actress Audrey Hepburn. As a young woman Hepburn lived in Arnhem, in the far east of the Netherlands. She arrived in the Netherlands just before the Second world war started and experienced German occupation and the traumatic end of the war, known from movies like a ‘Bridge too far’. This period in her live must have had a large influence on her. Former dancer Darcey Bussel presents the documentary and visits the local theatre, an old villa where Hepburn’s grandparents lived and the Airborne museum in Oosterbeek. Since all the trams were destroyed in the war, the director is driven back to the only historic tram left in the Arnhem Open Air museum. Video Link!

All Over The Place - Dutch episode

The children’s BBC program All Over The Place travels through Europe and also visits the Netherlands. Presenters Ed and Iain visit several iconic Dutch locations like the windmills on the Zaanse Schans, the cheese market in Alkmaar, the witches weigh house in Oudewater, the cat boat in Amsterdam and a ditch jumping tournament in the middle of the country.

Activities: research some of the locations, accompany filming, driving, research lunch locations.

17 August 2014

NHK Special edition

One month after the MH17 plane crash

One month after the MH17 plane crash the Japanese public broadcaster NHK broadcasts two special programs about the tragic disaster. NHK reporter Koji Gondaira visits the Netherlands to find out how the identification of the victims is doing and if there is already something to say about the investigation of the Dutch Safety Board. Since none of the authorities can say anything yet alternative sources need to be found. A representative of the Dutch Airline Pilots Association and a specialised forensic pathologist give their views on the cause of the crash and problems forensic specilaist face in the identification process. Several relatives of Dutch MH17 victims are portrayed. Video Link!

Flight HM17, after the disaster

For Deutsche Welle European Journal reporter Oliver Glasenapp comes to the Netherlands to find out how society is coping with the tragic plane crash in Ukraine. People are still visiting commemoration sites at the Amsterdam airport and at the military complex where an international team of experts is working on the identification of the victims. A scientist is giving his views on what the Dutch can do to determine, find and punish the offenders and what sanctions can be taken. A colleague of the famous aids researcher Joep Lange, who was also among the victims, explains what important role Lange played in providing cheap aids medicines to the poor. The chairman of the Dutch Press Council gives insight in the effect of the aviation disaster on Dutch society. Video Link!

Flight MH17, arrival of the first victims

ARD Correspondent Arnim Sauth is covering the day the first human remains of the MH17 plane crash in Ukraine, an official day of mourning. The question if flying over a war zone was an irresponsible thing to do, since other airlines already decided to stop flying over Ukraine. How did the long distance flight briefing go, and were there doubts about the flight schedule?

Activities: research.

23 July 2014

ABC News

Flight MH17, arrival of the first victims

On the day the first human remains of the tragic crash of flight HM17 arrive in the Netherlands, ABC needs help to cover the arrival on Airport Eindhoven, and the transport to a military complex in Hilversum. Also a sudden church service for the victims by the Dutch church council in a church in Amersfoort needs to be covered.

Activities: research, set-up, organise accreditation.

17 July 2014

ABC / ORF

Flight HM17 crash

After the news comes out that flight HM17 has crashed in east Ukraine, the American broadcaster ABC and the Autstrian ORF need help to cover the tragic event.

Activities: research.

17 July 2014

France 2 News

Flight HM17 crash

As soon as it becomes clear that flight MH17 crashed French correspondent Francois Beaudonnet needs to rush the Amsterdam airport Schiphol to report on location. A producers is needed.

Activities: research, set-up, accompany filming and live stand-ups.

16 July 2014

Mmpro

Find crew for interview

For an interview in Amsterdam the Berlin based production company Mmpro Film und Medienproduktion needs a camera crew working with a Canon 5D DSLR camera at short notice.

Activities: research and find crew and right equipment.

9 July 2014

France 2 News

World Cup semi-final Netherlands-Argentina

The Dutch national football team has surprised the nation and is almost in the final. The last hurdle is Argentina in the semi-final. On a cold, grey and wet evening almost every Dutch person is watching the match, resulting in an absolute viewers record of more than 12 million. The news program of the second France public cannel France 2 wants video footage of and interviews with the Dutch watching the match. In the North of Amsterdam some streets are heavily decorated and the fanatic supporters gather in front of the TV-set, obviously all totally dressed in orange. A revenge for the defeat against Argentina in the final of 1987 is expected, so also the revenge of the 1974 defeat against German will become a possibility. In the end this turn out to be nothing but a dream. The Dutch play a draw and lose on penalties.

Wilders and Le Pen fail to form a coalition in EU parliament

When it turns out that the formation of an anti-European seven party coalition by Geert Wilders and Marine le Pen has failed, Swiss correspondent Jonas Projer wants to know why it all went wrong. Most Dutch newspapers state that the reason for the failure is that the Polish party KNP is too right wing for the PVV. Party leader Janusz Korwin-Mikke has plead for the abolition for women to vote and has made anti-Semitic remarks. But a reporter from the Dutch public NOS news said that the KNP stepped out of the talks because they could not forget the anti-polish workers website the PVV has set-up in the past and the anti-Polish workers statements Wilders has made a while ago.

Activities: research.

23 June 2014

SRF 10 vor 10

Dutch innovative student housing

Around 20% of the Dutch office buildings are empty. At the same time there is a continuous shortage of student housing, especially in the West of the Netherlands. For a few years a special expert team for the transformation of office buildings it creating student apartments in unused office buildings. It turns out that it is profitable to build in simple student housing for a few years. The Dutch also came up with other solutions, like student housing in sea containers and lately a new formula called The Student Hotel. This year the shortage of student housing in Switzerland is so bad, that some students need to temporarily live in one of the many atomic bunkers in the country. Reporter Fritz Muri comes to the Netherlands to have a look at innovation in student housing. Video Link!

Shigeru Ban receives Pritzker price

On June 13, Shigeru Ban received the 2014 Pritzker Architecture Prize in front of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Tom Pritzker, Chairman and President of The Hyatt Foundation and sponsor of the prize, decorated the Japanese architect personally. Shigeru Ban, a Tokyo-born, 56-year-old architect with offices in Tokyo, Paris and New York, is rare in the field of architecture. He designs elegant, innovative work for private clients, and uses the same inventive and resourceful design approach for his extensive humanitarian efforts. For twenty years Ban has travelled to sites of natural and man-made disasters around the world, to work with local citizens, volunteers and students, to design and construct simple, dignified, low-cost, recyclable shelters and community buildings for the disaster victims.

Wilders abandons claim for seat in Dutch and European parliament

It turns out that it is impossible for the Dutch PVV to form a group with six other parties in the European Parliament before the deadline of 24 June. The PVV would like to form a group with the French Front National, the Italian Lega Nord, the Austrian FPO and the Flemish Vlaams Belang. But the needed cooperation with the Polish party KNP does not work out. Geert Wilders will keep on cooperating with the other parties even without the framework of a formal EP group, and he decides to abandon his claim for a seat in the Dutch and the European parliament.

Activities: research and advice.

4 June 2014

NCRV/Selfmade Films

Welcome Home

Documentary maker Frans Bromet explores why conflicts play a large role in his life. Via a small secret family feud his search for lost relatives leads to Israel where a major conflict, the Palestinian issue, also leaves deep marks. Why is it so hard to end disputes and make a clean sweep?Info link

European elections in the Netherlands

Before, during and after the European elections in the Netherlands ORF news produce TV- and radio reportages about the debates, the voting itself, the elections night of the PVV and the first exit poll and the way the Dutch receive the first results.

Start of European elections

The news program of the French public channel France 2 wants to cover the first day of the European elections in the Netherlands and in Great Brittan. Footage of voting and some interviews with Dutch voters is needed. Some voters are clearly pro-European, others have their doubts but do not want to leave the European Union because that would be even worse. Other voters are far more sceptic and negative about the Dutch membership of the European Union. Video Link!

Dutch jail system

Since jails in France are seriously overcrowded, the French broadcaster France 2 want to find out why the Dutch jails are getting emptier and emptier. Over the last years many prisons were closed and some even say that there are even more guards than prisoners in the Netherlands. Also the Dutch Lower House wants to know why are so little prisoners in Dutch jails. They asked the responsible minister to come with an explanation. In June or July the minister will write a letter to the Dutch parliament with some clear explanations.

Activities: research & set-up.

17 May 2014

ORF News

Preceding the European elections

Preceding the European elections ORF Europe correspondent Ernst Kenmayer visits the Netherlands to report about and talk to politicians of the parties leading in the polls. He attends the campaign visit of the PVV party leader Geert Wilders on a market in Spijkenisse and Alexander Pechtold, the leader of D66, handing out flyers in the Vondelpark in Amsterdam. A political analyst comments on the last results in the polls and on the possible electoral alliance between the PVV and the Austrian party FPÖ. At a debate organised by various migrant organisations, participants give their views on the possible rise of right wing parties in Europe.

ANNE, a new play about Anne Frank

ANNE is a theatre performance based on the life of Anne Frank. It covers the two years spent by Anne and her family in the Secret Annex as well as the events of the times before and after. ANNE is the first ever theatre performance based on all the versions of her diaries, including the uncensored ones, edited by Anne Frank herself. The ARD wants to broadcast background reportages a day before the premiere and on the day itself. In the theatre Amsterdam, especially designed and built for the ANNE production, the last preparations are made for the world premiere. The actress who plays Anne Frank, the director and one of the script writers give their views on the new spectacular play about Anne Frank. It is not easy to film during the last rehearsals because the producers are afraid the enormous life seize décor will be filmed and shown before the premiere. Video Link!

Proceeding the European elections

For news reportages before and during the upcoming European elections Europe correspondent Olaf Bruns visits the Netherlands to report on the PVV leading in the polls and to check out the locals. After an in-depth interview with Geert Wilders in the Dutch parliament, he travels to Volendam, a touristy fishing village on south side of Amsterdam, known for its Wilders support.

Activities: research, set-up, organise Wilders interview.

24 April 2014

France 2 News

The Wilders speech and the European elections

Since the PVV from Geert Wilders is teaming up with Front National and the Dutch party is leading the polls preceding the European Elections the news program from the second French public channel France 2 reports on the new right wing powers of Europe. Besides this the ‘Less Moroccans’ speech from Geert Wilders drew a lot of attention in France. They want to know how the Dutch people think about Wilders and about the presence of Moroccans in the Netherlands. In a shopping centre in the North of Amsterdam locals give their views.

Activities: research, set-up, filming and interviews, FTP material.

18 April 2014

Channel One Russia

Final verdict association Martijn ban

On Friday 18 April the Supreme Court decided to prohibit the Martijn Association, because their activities are violating public order. The Supreme Court sentenced that the association trivialises, glorifies and propagates sexual contact with children and that this is a serious infringement of the physical and sexual integrity of a child, which can cause permanent psychological damage. Europe correspondent Dmitry Soshin from Channel One Russia is sent to The Hague to report on the outcome. Video Link!

Life of young Dutch woman is saved with 3D printed skull

A 22-year-old Dutch woman with a life-threatening brain disorder was recently given a whole new cranium, thanks to the help of the innovative technology. Doctors at Utrecht Medical Center in the Netherlands used a 3D printer to build a plastic prosthetic bone for what they said was the first full-skull transplant. The surgery was performed in December, lasting 23 hours. The news program of the French second channel broadcasts a reportage and needs some reactions from the Dutch and some general views. Video Link!

Activities: research, vox pops, general views, FTP material.

26 March 2014

ABC News

Secret agents Obama sent home after heavy drinking

Three Secret Service agents responsible for protecting President Obama in Amsterdam were sent home and put on administrative leave Sunday after going out for a night of drinking. One of the agents was found drunk and passed out in a hotel hallway, hotel personnel stated. The hotel staff alerted the U.S. Embassy in the Netherlands after finding the unconscious agent Sunday morning, a day before Obama arrived in the country. The embassy then alerted Secret Service managers on the presidential trip, which included the Secret Service Director. The US Secret Service spokesman confirmed Tuesday evening that the agency “did send three employees home for disciplinary reasons” and that they were put on administrative leave pending an investigation. ABC News wants to cover the story but needs to know in what hotel it happened and needs footage from the hotel. It turns out that the management of the possible hotels, but also the US embassy in the Netherlands, do not want to confirm anything. The journalist of the Washington Post articles finally reveals that it was the Grand Hotel Huis ter Duin, where Obama stayed over as well.

Europol interview - Paedophiles on darknet

An increasing number of paedophiles are making use of darknet, a part of internet that is hidden. It is the opposite of the everyday internet called clearnet. Through special software that makes use of a large amount of different IP-addresses it is possible to be anonymously online. SRF Rundschau is producing 15 minute reportage about darknet and the activities of paedophiles in this part of internet where people can stay totally anonymous. Insiders compare darknet with a huge ocean, and the fight against criminals making use of it, with a tiny boat. For the reportage an interview with Troels Oerting, the head of the Europol Cybercrime Centre, is required. In the end Europol also gives permission to film in the hyper modern cyber crime centre's research lab. Text link! Video Link!

Commemoration of the Great War

At July 28 this year it is exactly 100 years ago that the First World War started. The Great War will be commemorated everywhere, especially in Belgium and the North of France. The Dutch were neutral at the time and never took part in the war itself. Most people think that nothing happened in the Netherlands, but according to a researcher from the First World War study centre this is not true. It were very insecure and difficult times for the Dutch. They were stuck in between two countries at war. Because of this the Netherlands received 1.3 million Belgian refugees and were confronted with huge problems, especially with food supply resulting in a revolt in Amsterdam. Parts of the South West province of Zeeland were accidentally bombed and throughout the country there were many internment camps with Germans, Belgians and French. The Swiss broadcaster Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) will cover the commemoration of the Great War extensively, and want to know what events will be organised in the Netherlands.

Activities: research.

17 March 2014

ARD Tagesthemen

Ukraine tank convoy stopped in Marioepol

ARD journalist Michael Heussen is covering the latest developments in the south east of Ukraine. A Ukraine convoy is stopped by pro-Russian forces and forced to turn around. The soldiers decide to only give an interview to Dutch TV, and the ARD would like to include some quotes in their coverage.

Activities: research, organise footage.

2 March 2014

ARD Weltspiegel

Orthodox Jews fighting genetic diseases

ARD Weltspiegel re-broadcasts a more extensive reportage about Jewish people in Antwerp using genetic tests to fight the chance of diseases that are widespread in the Jewish community. Since orthodox Jews only marry and reproduce in their own community diseases like Tay-Sachs relatively often occur. In the 1980ties Rabbi Joseph Ekstein, based in Brooklyn New York, started an organisation with the name Dor Yeshorim ('upright generation'), to fight genetic diseases to appear and to spread. Since then many young Jewish orthodox school children all around the world give blood that gets an anonymous code and is stored in the Dor Yeshorim database. If two partners want to marry and have children they can anonymously check at the organisation in New York if there is a genetic disease match. In Antwerp Joseph Weiss and his wife, a couple with five children, give their views on the matter. In the laboratory of the University hospital of Antwerp Professor Blaumeiser explains what kinds of genetic diseases occur in the Jewish community. Family doctor Martin Rosenblum, is carrying a genetic disease himself, but has his doubts about genetic selection since it might only make things worse. Text link!Video link!

Activities: research, set-up, planning, accompany filming.

25 February 2014

NHK News

Japan Donates €13.25 Million to OPCW

The Government of Japan has donated €13.25 million to a special OPCW Trust Fund to support the Organisation’s operations related to the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons programme. It is the single largest donation received to date into this Trust Fund. The donation was formalised with an exchange of letters today by Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü and Japan’s Permanent Representative to the OPCW, H.E. Masaru Tsuji, at a ceremony today in the OPCW headquarters in The Hague.

Activities: covering ceremony, FTP material.

21 February 2014

NHK News

Diary of Anne Frank vandalised in Japan

It turns out that hundreds of copies of the famous diary of Anne Frank are vandalized in libraries in Japan. More than 300 copies of the diary of Anne Frank and other books related to Anne Frank were found in public libraries in and around Tokyo with pages torn out. Nobody claimed responsibility, but many think it is right wing elements that want Japan to slide to the political right. NHK news wants a reaction from the director of the Anne Frank museum. Due to the sensitivity of the matter the director does not want to give an interview, but exteriors from the Anne Frank House and vox pops are needed.

Activities: filming exteriors and interviews, FTP material.

14 February 2014

ARD Tagesschau

Announcement World Press Photo of 2013

The international jury of the 57th annual World Press Photo Contest has selected an image by American photographer John Stanmeyer of the VII Photo Agency as the World Press Photo of the Year 2013. The picture shows African migrants on the shore of Djibouti city at night, raising their phones in an attempt to capture an inexpensive signal from

neighboring Somalia—a tenuous link to relatives abroad. Djibouti is a common stop-off point for migrants in transit from such countries as Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea, seeking a better life in Europe and the Middle East. The picture also won 1st Prize in the Contemporary Issues category, and was shot for National Geographic. The members of the jury announced the winners at a press conference held at the World Press Photo offices in Amsterdam on 14 February. For an overview of all the winners visit the World Press Photo site.

Finally Home

Only the father of documentary maker Frans Bromet was Jewish, but he felt a feeling of home coming when he was filming in Israel in 1990. Now he makes a 50 minutes documentary about jewish people that returned or will return to the land of Israel. This is called doing Aliyah, the immigration of Jews from the diaspora to the land of Israel. The return to the Holy Land has been the aspiration of many Jews since the Babylonian exile. Bromet follows and interviews Dutch Jews that already immigrated to Israel and some that are in the middle of moving to Isreal permanetnly. He wants to find out why these immigrants feel the need to leave the calm and peacefull Netherlands and start a new life in the holy land, and how this relates to his own feeling of home coming.

Fighting Counterfeiting

Christmas is boom-time for manufacturers and retailers as consumers engage in an annual shopping frenzy that sends profits soaring and can give a much-needed boost to ailing economies. But it’s not just the makers and sellers of the perfumes, handbags and watches we buy who are cashing in. Counterfeiters are increasingly getting in on that act, thanks to advances in technology and a change in the law in Europe. That’s the focus of this edition of On the Frontline. We’re out on the streets of Amsterdam and speak to customs officers in the port of Rotterdam trying to tackle the rip-off merchants. In our studio discussion we also hear from two experts in customs operations and anti-counterfeiting. They tell us of a surge in fake products – from luxury goods to medicines – and speak of their concerns for the safety of consumers in Europe.

OPCW Conference

The Conference of the States Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention has its Eighteenth Session in the first week of December 2013 at the World Forum in The Hague, next to the OPCW Headquarters. As requested by the OPCW Executive Council, Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü submits a plan for destroying the Syrian Arab Republic’s chemical weapons outside of the country to the Council. The plan aims to meet a deadline set by the Council to destroy Syria’s priority chemicals by 31 March 2014 and other mostly commodity chemicals by 30 June 2014.

Activities: camera, audio.

16 November 2013

RSI Telegiornale

The Zwarte Piet debate

Each November in the Netherlands, the red-and-white-clad Sinterklaas arrives by steamboat to great fanfare. In Amsterdam alone, hundreds of thousands turn out along the canals to greet the tall, bearded saint and his helpers, jolly types called “Zwarte Pieten” or “Black Petes.” After riding off on a white horse, Sinterklaas is said to roam the country until December 5th, when he lands on Dutch roofs and sends his Black Petes down chimneys to deliver gifts to good little girls and boys. Over the last years there are Dutch that feel that the Black Pete tradition is outdated and discriminating. This year a huge debate arises about the future of Black Pete dividing the Dutch over their Sinterklaas tradition. RSI reporter Tomas Miglierina travels to the Netherlands to cover the arrival of the children's friend and his black faced helpers and the debate.

Presentation destruction plan chemical weapons Syria

On November 15, the OPCW Executive Council approves a detailed plan of destruction to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile. In the plan, Syrian chemical weapons will be transported for destruction outside its territory to ensure their destruction in the “safest and soonest manner”, and no later than June 30th 2014. A statement from the OPCW spokes person is postponed a few times. Finally he comes out around 20.30 hours in the evening.

Activities: camera, audio.

13 November 2013

SRF Tagesschau

SRF Press conference Wilders and Le Pen

Marine Le Pen, leader of the French party the Front national (FN), visits The Hague today to meet with Dutch politician Geert Wilders, in an effort to build a powerful far-right political force during the 2014 EU elections. Receiving Le Pen in The Hague, Wilders said that she was 'an important politician and a good friend', reported the Dutch public broadcaster NOS. The two organise a joint press conference, underlining their plans to work together. Due to a lot of press interest and a very small press room, SRF has difficulties to attend the press conference.

Activities: research, get correspondent in press conference.

19 October 2013

ARD Europamagazin

Orthodox Jews fighting genetic diseases

Since orthodox Jews only marry and reproduce in their own community genetic diseases like Tay-Sachs relatively often occur. In the 1980ties Rabbi Joseph Ekstein, based in Brooklyn New York, started an organisation with the name Dor Yeshorim ('upright generation'), to fight genetic diseases to appear and to spread. Since then many young Jewish orthodox school children all around the world give blood that gets an anonymous code and is stored in the Dor Yeshorim database. If two partners want to marry and have children they can anonymously check at the organisation in New York if there is a genetic disease match. In Antwerp Joseph Weiss and his wife, a couple with five children, give their views on the matter. In the laboratory of the University hospital of Antwerp Professor Blaumeiser explains what kinds of genetic diseases occur in the Jewish community. Family doctor Martin Rosenblum, is carrying a genetic disease himself, but has his doubts about genetic selection since it might only make things worse. Text Link!Video Link!

Activities: research, set-up, planning, accompany filming.

11 October 2013

NHK News

OPCW wins Nobel peace prize

It suddenly turns out that not the Pakistani Malala Yousafzai will win the Nobel peace prize 2013, but the OPCW, the Organisation for the prohibition of chemical weapons, which has its head quarters in The Hague, the Netherlands. At 11.00 hours the Nobel committee states in a press conference that the OPCW won the Nobel peace price. At 13.30 hours the OPCW director-general Ahmet Üzümcü gives a press conference in the Bel Air Hotel, just besides the headquarters of the OPCW. NHK Europe correspondent Takashi Ichinose reports on location, interviews OPCW delegates about the surprising news, does some stand-ups and covers the press conference.

Fears over EU's foreign fighters

'We make war so we are war'. That, some would say chilling quotation, came from Abdelkarim Honing, a young man in the Netherlands who has converted to Islam. He has seen many of his friends leave to take up arms in the bloody conflict in Syria. In Amsterdam leaders in the Muslim community are deeply concerned by the exodus of more than 100 young men to the war-torn country which has become the number one destination for jihadists. Does the civil conflict pose a major terrorist threat to Europe? ‘On The Frontline’ confronts the issues behind the exodus of fighters to Syria and what it means for Europe. A debate between a former Islamist extremist and counter-terrorism expert. Video Link!

Arrival of the Yong Sheng

The Yong Sheng is the first ever container-transporting vessel sailing transit along the Northern Sea Route. When arriving in the port of Rotterdam the 19,000-ton vessel “Yong Sheng” will get its place in the history books as the first container-transporting vessel which made it transit along the Arctic shortcut between Asia and Europe. The melting Arctic ice is quickly expanding the sailing season on the Arctic route, shaving two weeks off the traditional route between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal.

Activities: research, set-up, planning, accompany filming.

7 September 2013

ARD Europamagazin

Future of fishery discards

After years of negotiation a new European rule to ban discarding unwanted fish overboard was agreed upon in May this year. Fisherman and fish dealer Jan Geertsema wants to change the system by promoting fishing in a much more durable way, decreasing the number of non-commercial discard fish to a minimum. For the rest he sells and promotes the fish surplus, extra caught fish and unknown sorts of fish to exclusive restaurants and he sells fish on organic markets. Geert Buruma, chef cook and owner of restaurant Merkelbach in Amsterdam, loves to work with the special surplus fish from Geertsema. Both Jan and Geert strive for durable changes in fishing which actually would make the new European discard rules unnecessary to implement. In his kitchen Buruma shows what you can do with fishery discards and underlines how important it is to eat and work with durable food, a durable fisherman in the harbour of Den Over states that bringing discards ashore is bad for the system because young fish that would have survived is taken out of the system. Jan Geertsema uses ancient fishing techniques with large-mesh nets, so young fish can escape. To promote durable fishing he established the 'Goeie Vissers' organisation. The fishermen that joined the ‘Goeie Vissers’ group also use more durable nets and techniques. According to Jan, a follower of the Slow Food movement, people should really be conscious about what they eat, where it is coming from and how it is produced or caught. Many colleagues think Jan is crazy to work with large-mesh nets, but he just does not want to catch the young fish. Within the Slow Food organisation he now founded the Slow Fish movement, to spread his durable fishing philosophy around the world. Video Link!

Activities: research, set-up and planning, accompany filming, part of the direction and interviews, translations, organise and accompany satellite feed.

5 September 2013

NHK News

Netherlands visit Minister Amari

Japan's Economic Revitalization Minister Akira Amari visits the Netherlands and Denmark. He is hoping to find out how those countries boosted their economies. Revitalizing the agricultural and medical industries is a key part of the growth strategy of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. While in the Netherlands, Amari visits an area in the Wageningen region known as 'Food Valley'. Officials from the public and private sectors conduct research there in an effort to create new businesses. Amari hopes to study the conditions that led the Netherlands to become the world's 2nd largest exporter of food products, trailing only the US. NHK News wants HD video footage from the minister arriving at his Amsterdam hotel after his Dutch tour, and from an exclusive interview by NHK journalist Yasunori Okazaki.

Why Ajax fans identify themselves with jews

Since the seventies of the last century the fans of the Amsterdam football club Ajax identify themselves with Jews. Although officially Ajax is not a Jewish club, many of the supporters sing and yell 'Jews, Jews, Jews' during every match. A Dutch foundation against anti-Semitism wants the supporters to stop using the term Jew as a nickname, even though discrimination has nothing to do with it. The problem is that the tradition evokes anti-Semitic utterances from the supporters of opponents. Most of the Ajax supporters are proud of their "Jewish identity", and do not want to stop using it. But there are also older Jewish supporters Ajax fans that are hurt by the chanting. In the meantime Ajax, the Dutch Football Association, Ajax supporters and representatives of the Jewish community try to find a solution. The documentary researches the remarkable nickname tradition, the link between Ajax and the Jews and what the Jewish identity actually means. The Dutch Jewish broadcaster De Joodse Omroep will broadcast the 60 minutes documentary about Ajax and the identification with the Jewish culture on August 25, 2013. Video Link!

The future of fishery discards

A ban on discarding unwanted fish overboard is the most contentious new rule agreed to in late May after years of negotiation. Fishermen currently discard nearly a quarter of Europe's total catch on average, and as much as 70% of the hauls in some areas, European Commission data show. Scientists and environmental groups blame the practice for speeding the decline of fish stocks. Fisherman and fish dealer Jan Geertsema wants to change the system by promoting fishing in a much more durable way, decreasing the number of non-commerical discard fish to a minum. For the rest he promotes the fish surplus, extra caught fish and unknown sorts of fish to exclusive restaurants. Geert Buruma, cook and owner of restaurant Merkelbach in Amsterdam, loves to work with the special surplus fish from Geertsema. The fish is always super fresh and has a minum transportation time. Both Jan and Geert strive for durable changes in fishing which actually would make the new European discard rules unnecessary to implement. Video Link!

Activities: research, set-up and planning, accompany filming, part of the direction and interviews, translations, organise and accompany satellite feed.

19 July 2013

Lime Pictures

Organising permission MTV Geordie Shore

In November 2012 the MTV UK show Geordie Shore is filmed in Amsterdam on the flower market, the Leidseplein and Rembrandtsplein, the Albert Cuyp market, the Red Light District and sex theatre Casa Rosso. Something went wrong with the release forms, and since the video material is now edited, the forms need to be signed.

Activities: organise involved to sign the release forms.

11 July 2013

NCRV/Selfmade Films

Finally home

Documentary maker Frans Bromet has a Jewish father and felt a feeling of home coming when he was filming in Israel in 1990. Now he makes a 50 minutes documentary about jewish people that returned or will return to the land of Israel. This is called Aliyah, the immigration of Jews from the diaspora to the land of Israel. The return to the Holy Land has been the aspiration of many Jews since the Babylonian exile. Bromet follows and interviews Dutch Jews that already immigrated to Israel and some that plan to immigrate in the near future. He wants to find out why these immigrants feel the need to leave the calm and peacefull Netherlands and start a new life in the holy land, and how this relates to his own feeling of home coming.

Jack to a King documentary

Hollywood has come to Welsh football club Swansea to tell the story of the Swans' triumphant rise to the Premier League in big-hitting movie Jack To A King. Oscar and BATFA award-winners are taking the Swansea football dream to the big screen. Executive Producer Mal Pope: “This is a truly remarkable story of how a ‘rag tag’ band of builders, housewives, teachers and travel agents came together to save their football club and ended up turning their city into a worldwide brand. A story of how sometimes even the wildest dreams can come true!”. John van Zweden owns a Wallpaper and interior shop in The Hague. Since he was young he has been supporter of Swansea and he was one of the sponsors that helped Swansea to survive. Now he is one of the owners of a Premiere League club.

Activities: driving and accompanying filming.

14 June 2013

SRF 10 vor 10

Down side of the Dutch immigration policy

Switzerland is reforming its system to handle asylum seekers using the Dutch system as an example. On the 1 of July 2013 Dutch deputy minister Fred Teeven will present changes to the asylum seekers system. He is forced to do so because the outcry of some hopeless refugees exhausted of all legal procedures and the bureaucratic mistakes resulting in the suicide of Russian detained political refugee Alexander Dolmatov. Also the Board of Europe, the UN and the Dutch ombudsman have criticised the Dutch for its asylum seekers policy that is far too restrictive and inhuman. Some detained refugees in a deportation centre started a hunger strike to ask attention for the hopeless situation they are in. Outside the deportation centres demonstrators give support stating that deportation should be stopped, and that there should be no borders and nations. SRF 10 vor 10 requests help to find some current Dutch background reportages. Video Link!

EU-wide protection of victims

In May the European Parliament adopted the European Protection Order and protection certificate. New EU-wide protection measures for victims of stalking, violence, intimidation, soon to be valid in all Member States. In early June the European Justice Ministers will enforce the new measures. Euronews Right On reporter Seamus Kearney visits the Netherlands to find out how victims of domestic violence are protected. A victim of stalking and the manager of a reception centre in Utrecht give their views on the practices of stalking and how difficult it is to protect victims of domestic violence. Cees Nierop, a lawyer specialised in stalking, admits that protection of victims will be better guaranteed in Europe. Video Link!

The investiture of the King

On April 30, 2013 the whole world can follow the abdication of Queen Beatrix and the investiture of King Willem Alexander and his wife Queen Maxima. The city of Amsterdam is full of people dressed in orange. While the city is partying, in the centre on the Dam Square everything is going according to protocol. Video Link 1; Video Link 2

Activities: research & advise, accompany live stand-up's and interviews.

29 April 2013

SRF Tagesschau

The Netherlands before the coronation

On April 30, 2013, the very last queens day will take place in the Netherlands. Next year the national celebration day will take place three days earlier, and it will be called Kings day. Foregoing the coronation, SRF journalist Henriette Engbersen checks out the traditional activities, like the claiming of parts of pavement for the flea market sales and youngsters constructing their special skill games for the day that all Amsterdam will be orange. Video Link!

Preparing for the new King

ZDF Mona Lisa wants to show the preparations for the Dutch coronation. Activities on Dam Square in Amsterdam, shops full of orange t-shits, hats and sun glasses and a German-Dutch family living in Amsterdam explaining what the monarchy and the upcoming coronation and Queens day means for them.

Controversy over King's song

Suddenly it turns out that the kings’ song that is written and performed by Dutch artists get loads of critics. Tens of thousands of people in the Netherlands have objected to an official King's Song marking the 30 April investiture of Willem-Alexander. The writer of the song withdraws the song, but in the end the song is taken on again. ARD wants to know what the Dutch people think about the song. On the Dam Square, where the preparations for the event started, the Dutch give their diverse views.

Verdict cannabis permit court case

By law Maastricht coffee shops, are only allowed to sell marijuana to people who officially live in the Netherlands. However, a court ruling in favour of one coffee shop, closed by the Maastricht mayor Onno Hoes because it broke the rules, has given rise to hopes that the ban on foreigners may be dropped.

Activities: research & set-up.

20 April 2013

Euronews

Find royalty specialist

For the coverage of the coronation Euronews correspondent Olaf Bruns is looking for a specialist on the Dutch royal house. The person needs to be interviewed in Amsterdam during the event. Quite difficult because many specialists are already booked by colleagues of other channels. Video Link!

Activities: research and advice.

18 April 2013

NHK News

Preparing for the new King

NHK correspondent Takashi Ichinose wants to be well prepared and well positioned to cover the abdication of the Dutch Queen and the investiture of the new King. For a news reportage he wants to find out how popular the monarchy is in the Netherlands and to show the preparation of queens day and of the inauguration of the new monarch.

Activities: research & advice.

15 April 2013

BBC Top Gear

Amsterdam research

The famous BBC car program Top Gear is thinking about filming in Amsterdam. The idea is to sail around a Toyota van thats reconstructed as a hovercraft through te Amsterdam canals. To see if the plan is feasible research needs to be done, and the right civil servants need to be contacted. In the end it turns out that it is impossible to execute the plan because the hovercraft-van does not fit under some of the bridges on preferred routes and locations.

Activities: research, advice, meetings.

10 April 2013

SRF 10 vor 10

The price of the Dutch monarchy

For the background to the news program SRF '10 vor 10' Swiss correspondent Jonas Projer wants to check out how popular the monarchy is in the Netherlands and what future it has. He also researches the fortune of the Queen and the royal family. The republican and anti-monarchy organisations team up for protest. They criticize the fact that the monarch does not pay any taxes and that it still has too much political power. Royal fans on the traditional peninsula, still in costumes, see the royal family as their own family and look very much forward to the new king. A president is as expensive, to them the monarchy is an important fundament of Dutch society. Video Link!

Activities: research, advice, set-up and planning, accompany filming.

25 March 2013

Bromet en dochters / Joodse Omroep

Why Ajax fans identify themselves with jews

Since the seventies of the last century the fans of the Amsterdam football club Ajax identify themselves with Jews. Although officially Ajax is not a Jewish club, many of the supporters sing and yell 'Jews, Jews, Jews' during every match. A Dutch foundation against anti-Semitism wants the supporters to stop using the term Jew as a nickname, even though discrimination has nothing to do with it. The problem is that the tradition evokes anti-Semitic utterances from the supporters of opponents. Most of the Ajax supporters are proud of their "Jewish identity", and do not want to stop using it. But there are also older Jewish supporters Ajax fans that are hurt by the chanting. In the meantime Ajax, the Dutch Football Association, Ajax supporters and representatives of the Jewish community try to find a solution. The documentary researches the remarkable nickname tradition, the link between Ajax and the Jews and what the Jewish identity actually means. The Dutch Jewish broadcaster De Joodse Omroep will broadcast the 60 minutes documentary about Ajax and the identification with the Jewish culture on August 25, 2013. Video Link!

Crisis in Cyprus

For a report on the on-going crisis in Cyprus EU correspondent Takashi Ichinose needs data to get in touch with the team around Eurogroup chairman, and Dutch finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem.

Activities: research and supply needed data.

17 March 2013

BBC Scotland

The opening of the Rijksmuseum

For filming in the renovated Rijksmuseum a crew from the BBC Scotland needs a soundman. The museum opens on April 13, 2013.

Activities: research sound people.

15 March 2013

ARTE Journal

Bankers bonuses

These days bank bonuses and especially decreasing them is a lot in the news. The Swiss decided by referendum that the shareholders should decide about how height or low bonuses should be, and on the European level is decided that a maximum bonus should be maximum a year’s salary. In the Netherlands the minister of Finance will introduced this coming summer to cap the bonuses to a maximum of 20%. The news program of the broadcaster ARTE plans to come to the Netherlands to see how the Dutch banks are handling the issue, especially because three of the four large banks have been nationalised.

Activities: research & set-up.

13 March 2013

NHK News

Dutch baseball team

The Dutch National Team is the all-time leader in European Championship titles, winning 20 titles out of 32 tournaments including 5 of the last 7, and finishing as runner-up in the two most recent years (2010, 2012). Their win in 2007 qualified them for the Olympics in 2008, in which they finishing in 4th place in Beijing. During the World Baseball Classic tournament the Dutch team is doing well again. The might play the final against Japan. In that case NHK will report from the Netherlands. In the meantime the EU correspondent wants to get detailed information about the team, and about the progress they make.

Activities: research.

12 March 2013

ARD

Beatrix visits school

The ARD wants actual video footage of the Dutch Queen Beatrix. One of the last official activities of the queen is visiting the European School in Bergen to celebrate the 50 years anniversary of the international school. a very special events, since Beatrix also opened the school when she was still a princes.

The new pope

In case the new pope will be a Dutchman, ABC News wants to know what Dutch church specialist can be interviewed and a package of footage of the Dutch cardinal Wim Eijk needs to be stand-bye.

Activities: research and find specialist, organise footage package.

26 February 2013

SFR 10 for 10

Beatrix Inc.

The Swiss public TV program 10 for 10 wants to produce a reportage about the unknown business side of the Dutch queen. It is known that Beatrix is one of the richest women on earth, but how rich is she exactly.

Activities: research, set-up and planning.

22 February 2013

NHK News

Abdication Dutch queen

The NHK European correspondent will have to cover the abdication of the Dutch queen on April 30, 2013.

Activities: research, organise accreditation.

19 February 2013

ORF Weltjournal

Loverboys

ORF Weltjournal is planning a background reportage about the Loverboy phenomena and wants to know what the actual situation is in The Netherlands. Around 15 years ago the term Loverboy came into use in the Netherlands and Belgium. Loverboys are young men that make young girls emotionally dependent and subsequently force them to work in prostitution, usually taking all their earnings.

Activities: research.

14 February 2013

ARD Tagesschau

Horse meat scandal

The EU's law enforcement agency, Europol, has been asked to assist in the investigations into the Europe-wide horse meat scandal. It comes after Findus beef lasagne products, which are made by a French company, were found to contain up to 100% horse meat. The alarm was raised after Comigel, the French food producer, alerted Findus and retailer Aldi that their products did not conform with production standards. An Aldi spokesman said: “Tests have been completed that show horse meat in the withdrawn products. In samples selected at random, tests demonstrated that the withdrawn products contained between 30% and 100% horse meat. Horse DNA has also been found in products in Sweden, Spain and the Netherlands. ARD Tagesthemen wants an interview with the responsible Europol executive.

Dutch sheep dogs photo hype

The lives of four-year-old Sophie and Sarah, aged two, are well documented by their parents who post pictures of their everyday lives, playing chess, reading books and behaving at the dinner table. However, Sophie and Sarah are not children, but a pair of shaggy Old English sheepdogs. Owners Cees Bol and Hanneke van de Watering record the adventures of their dogs and their furry friends throughout the year in picturesque locations near their small Dutch village of Sibculo.

Activities: research, find Cees Bol and link him and stock agencies to GMA.

31 January 2013

ORF News

EU attempts to privatize public water services

Civil society groups everywhere in Europe are gearing up to fight the European Commission’s new attempts to privatize public water services. Civil society organizations believe this privatization conditionality is “unacceptable” and “seriously undermines the right to water.” The Netherlands is famous for its water works and -management, but also for its liberal economic climate and that fact that many public services have been privatized. How is the public drinking water supply organised in the Netherlands? In April last year a new drinking water law is taken on that forbids the privatization of drinking water facilities. According to a specialist, this already was impossible anyway. The drinking water services are all owned by Dutch municipalities and provinces, but they are run as commercial companies. Sounds pretty commercial and privatized, but the specialist underlines that all the shares are in the hands of the authorities, so the drinking water supply stays a public service.

Activities: research, find specialist for info live news stand-up.

30 January 2013

ARD Mittagsmagazin/Tagesshau

Verdict Shell court case

A Dutch court has rejected four out of five allegations against Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell over oil pollution in Nigeria's Niger Delta region. But it found a subsidiary of the firm, Shell Nigeria, responsible for one case of pollution, ordering it to pay compensation to a Nigerian farmer. Shell said it was "happy" with the verdict in the landmark case. The case was brought by four Nigerian farmers and Friends of the Earth, which says it is "flabbergasted". The campaign group says it intends to appeal. However, it has welcomed the Dutch court's ruling that Shell's subsidiary was liable on one count. Video Link 1; Video Link 2

Dutch queen announces resignation

Suddenly it becomes clear that Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will resign in favour of her son, Prince Willem-Alexander this year. In a pre-recorded address broadcast on TV, she said she would formally stand down on 30 April. The queen, who is approaching her 75th birthday, said she had been thinking about this moment for several years and that now was "the moment to lay down my crown". Queen Beatrix has been head of state since 1980, when her mother abdicated. In the short televised statement, the queen said it was time for the throne to be held by "a new generation", adding that her son was ready to be king. For ARD Nachtmagazin, ARD Morgenmagazin, ARD Mittagsmagazin, ARD Brisant, ARD Tagesschau, ARD Tagesthemen, ARD Nachtmagazin.

How the Dutch fight youth unemployment

Euronews Reporter produces a series of reportages about youth unemployment in Europe. While youth unemployment rates in Greece and Spain hover around 60 percent, the figure in Austria, Germany and the Netherlands is below ten percent. How do the Dutch combat youth unemployment? How do they get young people into the labour market? Caused by the on-going economic crisis also in the Netherland many more youngsters are getting unemployed now. Especially the unemployment figure of Dutch migrant youngsters is rising seriously. While the government and local municipalities are introducing even more spending cuts this year, youngsters and also companies cannot expect much from the authorities. They will have to take action themselves. The Dutch Luckily have a dual system. This approach combining training and practical learning forms the basis of education in the Netherlands.Video Link!

Cameron’s Europe speech

For quite some time it is known that the prime minster of the UK will give a speech to make clear how the English see their future in Europe. Former prime minister Margaret Thatcher gave her famous Europe speech in Bruges, Belgium, in September 1988. Suddenly Cameron decides to give his speech in the Netherlands. Out of security reasons the location and time is kept secret till the last moment. Because of the violent liberation of hostages in Algeria, including English civilians, Cameron eventually has to cancel his Europe speech till a later date.

Activities: research & set-up.

12 January 2013

Channel 9/60 Minutes

Australia trip Wilders

Suddenly it becomes clear the Geert Wilders will visit Australia next month. He is invited by an organisation called the Q Society to give a few lectures about his views about the Islam. Originally the plan was to already travel to last year, but it took the Australian authorities much longer to allow Geert Wilders to come and to give him the needed visa.

Activities: research, set-up and planning.

11 January 2013

NHK News

Request interview minister Dijsselbloem

Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem has been elected as the new head of the Euro group, replacing the outgoing Jean-Claude Juncker. The 46 year-old, who has been head of the Dutch Finance Ministry for two months, was expected to take over. He said he hoped he would be able to focus on longer-term policies rather than just crisis management. The Euro group is made up of the finance ministers from the 17 nations that use the single European currency. Mr Dijsselbloem insisted the Eurozone should continue with economic reforms and austerity measures designed to resolve the debt crisis.

Activities: research, request Dijsselbloem interview.

7 January 2013

NHK News

Dutch Patriots to Turkey

The Dutch start the transport of the Patriot missiles to Turkey for the NATO protection of the cities close to the border of Syria. The Turkish government asked for extra NATO protection because over the last months some missiles have landed in Turkey causing damage and even casualties. The Patriot system can detect a missile and shoot it out of the sky. On a Dutch army base the Patriot systems, soldiers and extra's leave for the Eems harbour in the north of the Netherlands to be shipped to Turkey. The Dutch general and responsible commander give a press conference to explain what the NATO mission, with the name Anatolian Protector, exactly means in practice. After the pressconference a Patriot system is demonstrated just besides the airstrip where the convoys are gathering and departing.

Dutch breed and eat insects

The Dutch have insect farms where grasshoppers, crickets and all kinds of worms are produced. Dutch insect munchers love their creepy crawly snacks so much that they released a special Insect Cookbook this year. Their creation is said to be dedicated to promoting insects as a great source of nourishment. The cookbook contains some pretty unique recipes like how to add worms to your chocolate muffin mix, or grasshoppers on a mushroom risotto. According to Arnold van Huis, a professor at the laboratory of entomology at the Wageningen University, the world population is expected to hit 9 billion by 2050, and there may not be sufficient land to raise livestock that meets everybody’s needs. We might just have to turn to bugs as a protein alternative. The nutritional value of insects is quite similar to that of meat, and it is more environmentally friendly to raise insects instead of livestock. The science program Einstein, from the Swiss public broadcaster Schweizer Fernsehen, will transmit a live program around Christmas where insects like mealworms, cricket’s ad grasshoppers will be prepared and eaten. The reportage about the Dutch insects breeders, a delicatessen shop where insects are sold, and an interview with professor Van Huis will be broadcasted in between the cooking and eating. Video Link!

Linesman dies after abuse youngsters

Richard Nieuwenhuizen was doing what he loved: watching his son play football and helping out his local club by running the touchline as a volunteer linesman. On Monday the 41-year-old father's passion for football cost him his life. Prosecutors announced on Tuesday they were charging three players, two 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old, with manslaughter, assault and public violence for alleged involvement in a vicious attack on Nieuwenhuizen after a youth match between two local clubs, Buitenboys and Nieuw Sloten. The players, whose identities were not released, will be arraigned on Thursday at a closed-door hearing. Link!

Dutch Patriots for Turkey

Nato has approved the deployment of Patriot anti-missile batteries along Turkey's border with Syria. The long-expected move emerged from a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Brussels, and amid growing fears that Syria could use chemical weapons. Nato's Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said "The patriot missiles have been deployed, making it necessary for any potential aggressor to think twice before attacking Turkey". The Patriot system would probably be supplied by the United States, the Netherlands or Germany and is designed mainly to bring down missiles. But Turkish papers say it won't be the US ones, but Dutch or Geman, or both. The NHK EU correspondent wants to show the preparations, transport and placement of the Dutch Patriots.

Activities: research, organise permission, set-up filming.

14 November 2012

ABC Documentary

The Bible

For a four hour ABC documentary about the Bible, hosted by Christiane Amanpour, a romantic looking boat is needed to film the presenter sailing through the Amsterdam canals, drenched by the autumn sun.

Why Ajax fans identify themselves with jews

Since the seventies of the last century the fans of the Amsterdam football club Ajax identify themselves with jews. Although Ajax is not an official Jewish club, many of the supporters sing and yell 'Jews, Jews, Jews' during every match. A Dutch foundation against anti-Semitism wants the supporters to stop using the term jew as a nickname, even though discrimination has nothing to do with it. The problem is that the tradition evokes anti-Semitic utterances from the supporters of opponents. Most of the Ajax supporters are proud of their "Jewish identity", and do not want to stop using it. But there are also older Jewish supporters Ajax fans that are hurt by the chanting. In the meantime Ajax, the Amsterdam mayor, the supporters association and a few rabbi’s try to find a solution. The documentary researches the remarkable nickname tradition, the link between Ajax and the Jews and what the Jewish identity actually means in practice. The Dutch Jewish broadcaster De Joodse Omroep will broadcast the 60 minutes documentary about Ajax and the identification with the Jewish culture on August 25, 2013 .

Steve Jobs‘ yacht

Steve Jobs‘ yacht was unveiled in a Dutch shipyard, where the unusual boat designed by Jobs and famed minimalist designer Philippe Starck was christened “Venus,” after the Roman goddess of love, beauty, sex, fertility, prosperity and victory. The finished ship was launched at shipbuilder Koninklijke De Vries in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. Jobs’ widow Laurene and three of their children, Reed, Erin and Eve, were at the ceremony. The yacht appears to be as it was described in the Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson. In the book, Isaacson wrote about Jobs showing him models and architectural drawings of the yacht, which Isaacson described as “sleek and minimalist.”

Moratorium on drilling shale gas

Like in other parts of the world also the Dutch are thinking about winning shale gas. Some tests were done, and a journalist from Euronews wants to know if the moratorium on these shale gas test drillings is now lifted. It turns out that the moratorium on Shale gas test drilling is still in place. The Dutch ministry first asked for a research after the effects on humans and the environment. This research needed to be offered Europe wide, and it is not clear yet what organisation will do the research. A press officer of the Dutch ministry of Agriculture says that it is expected that the results of the research will come out in the middle of 2013.Video link!

Activities: research.

23 October 2012

ARD Tagesthemen

Hospital virus protection

In Germany a congress is organised about the security in hospitals against resistant bacteria and viruses. Tagesthemen wants to find out how the Dutch are protecting patients and hospital personnel against antibiotics resistant bacteria. It turns out that washing hands frequently and in the right way is vital. Also the fact that in the Netherlands labs are located in hospitals turns out to speed up the monitoring and discovery. A professor in Molecular Epidemiology of infection diseases from the University medical centre in Utrecht explains and shows how the Dutch organise the protection of hospitals against resistant bacteria.

Art theft Rotterdam

Several important works of art of considerable value have been stolen from Rotterdam's Kunsthal art gallery in an overnight burglary. The stolen works are Picasso's Harlequin Head (1971), two 1901 Monet canvases (Waterloo Bridge, London and Charing Cross Bridge, London), Matisse's Reading Girl in White and Yellow (1919), Paul Gauguin's Girl in Front of Open Window (1898), Meyer de Haan's Self-Portrait, (ca. 1890) and Woman with Eyes Closed, a 2002 painting by Lucian Freud. Although such works would fetch millions of dollars at auction, the stolen paintings will be impossible to unload through legitimate channels, given their high profile, and a sale on the black market is likely to bring in only a fraction of the paintings' real value.

Wilders trip to Australia

For a while it known that the leader of the Dutch Freedom Party Geert Wilders is planning to visit Australia. Although the trip was originally planned in 2012, it now seems that he will travel to Australia early next year. Mr Wilders is invited by the Q Society, which spokesman Andrew Horwood described as a group of a few hundred Australians "concerned about the march of Islam into this country". The right-wing Dutch MP, who once compared the Koran to Mein Kampf, applied for a visa a few weeks ago to give speeches in Sydney and Melbourne. The Channel 9 program '60 Minutes' is planning to cover the visit, and to come over to make a portrait of Wilders before he leaves for Australia.

Prostitution in Europe

France's minister for women is to organise a consultation on ways to abolish prostitution in France and Europe, she has told the Guardian. Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, the high profile women's rights minister and government spokeswoman, said in an interview that she would be organising a conference of experts on how to contain the sex-trade and human-trafficking. For a special program for France 3, the presenter and documentary maker Mireille Dumas produces a documentary about prostitution policy in Europe. For MD Productions reporter Lionel Baillon visits Switzerland and Amsterdam in the Netherlands. In Switzerland prostitution is legal and regulated; it has been legal since 1942. Prostitutes work in licensed brothels, typically with a reception and leading to several studio apartments. Street prostitution is illegal, except in specially designated areas in the major cities. In the Netherlands the prostitution branch is legal since 2000. It has one of the most liberal prostitution policies in the world and attracts sex tourists from many European countries and from the US. In Amsterdam most of the prostitutes work in window brothels. In 2009 the city council decided to fresh up the red light district by starting to restrict the number of window brothels. Window renters, a prostitute, the manager of the new policy and an ex-prostitute running an information centre explain how the Dutch system works and what the effects will be of the new policy.

Elections day 2012

On the day of the Dutch national elections Austrians Europe correspondent Ernst Kernmeyer covers the vote and the outcome itself. Since the Dutch vote with the red pencil, it takes till 3 o'clock at night before it is definite that the liberal party VVD won again. At 21.00 hours a huge surprise came out of the first exit polls. The large amount of floating voters finally decided to vote on the liberals and the social democrats. For the first time in years the VVD and the PvdA end up with around 40 seats and it gets clear that these two parties will have to form a new government. It also gets clear that the outcome is very pro-European. The populists are pushed back to the political outsides of the political spectrum again.

Dutch elections 2012

On the last day before the Dutch national elections Euronews visits Amsterdam to find out how the Dutch are thinking about the political future of the country and of the European Union. A bicycle repairman, clients of a traditional cafe and a cheese vendor on the Albert Cuyp market gives their views. Video Link!

Activities: research, set-up and planning.

11 September 2012

ARD Europamagazin

Cuts in Dutch youth care

The new Dutch austerity measures also include serious spending cuts in the youth care branch. In Rotterdam the company Sagenn lost all its subsidies, and according to the personnel it is not if, but when things will go horribly wrong with some of the youngsters in the harbour town. Some of the youngsters need some extra attention and motivation to find the right track to work or education again. Now they will have to figure it all out themselves. Some will not manage and end up into crime.

Last campaign weekend elections

On the last weekend before the Dutch national elections the party leaders hit the streets again to meet the Dutch voters and to show their faces to national and international media. The leader of the social democrats Diederik Samsom visits Utrecht. During the last week he became the new runner up. Suddenly it is a neck and neck race between Samsom and the actual liberal prime minster Mark Rutte. Samsom and his elections caravan walk through a sunny centre of Utrecht, and hand out roses. At the end of the tour the new social democrat leader gives a speech.

Elections 2012

With less than 10 days to go before the Dutch national elections, the Swiss Italian correspondent visits the Netherlands to check out how the Dutch see yet another moment to elect a new government. It will be the 5th government in 5 years and everybody in the world is curious how anti-European the Dutch became.

Activities: research, set-up and planning.

29 August 2012

SRF Tagesschau

Alleged plane hijack

The Netherlands scrambled two F16 fighter jets Wednesday to escort a Spanish passenger plane to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport after air traffic controllers could not make contact with the aircraft's crew. Dutch media initially reported a possible hijacking, but local police and Vueling, the Spanish carrier whose jet was at the centre of the scare, later confirmed there was never a hijacking or a hostage situation.

Activities: research, follow news, updates.

27 August 2012

Mmpro/Vattenfall

Transport of platform

At the shipyard of Hollandia an enormous platform needs to be assembled for the Energy company Vattenfall. The platform needs to hold the transformers for yet another off shore wind park. For the last phase of the process the base of the platform is transported into a gigantic assembling hall with robot caterpillar machines. The footage will be used for a company film about off shore wind parks

Elections campaign PVV

In Rotterdam, 'the city of Pim Fortuyn', the PVV kicks off his national elections campaign. Surrounded by an army of security guards- and equipment, and accompanied by the song 'The eye of the tiger' Geert Wilders make his appearance and clearly expresses his anti-European viewpoints.

Activities: research, set-up and planning, film event.

23 August 2012

Der Spiegel

The Facebook murder

A 15-year-old Dutch boy has been sentenced to a year in juvenile detention after he confessed to killing a schoolgirl over a row that appears to have begun on Facebook. Jinhua K was 14 when he fatally stabbed Joyce "Winsie" Hau at her home. Later in the year a teenage couple will appear in court, charged with ordering the killing.

Activities: research basic data of court, public prosecutor, family, media.

19 August 2012

NHK News

Elections campaign SP

A month before the Dutch national elections the parties are kicking off their campaigns. The Socialist Party gathers in the Open-air Museum in Arnhem. On an extremely hot Sunday party leader Roemer gives his campaign speech. The party is the runner up in the polls, and even seems to be able to compete with the liberal party VVD.

Nuclear power in the Netherlands

While the results of the European nuclear stress test are discussed in Brussels, NHK Europe correspondent Takashi Ichinose visits the one and only Dutch nuclear power plant in Borselle. The managing director gives him a tour, including a visit to the heart of the plant, the basin where the nuclear fuel elements are kept. It turns out that the plant survived the stress test well. The future of nuclear power is also unclear in the Netherlands, since the plans for a second nuclear power plant are postponed indefinitely.

Activities: research, set-up and planning, accompany filming.

9 August 2012

ARD Tagesthemen

How the Dutch transplant organs

After an organ transplant scandal involving data manipulation to have patients jump the long waiting lists for organs has shocked Germany, ARD Tagesthemen wants to know how the Dutch, also part of the Eurotransplant area, are treating waiting lists and organs. A liver specialist and liver surgeon from the Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam explain how their transplant department handles the waiting lists and organ that are offered. It turns out that the main difference seems to be the less hierarchical way the Dutch are working. Weekly a team of minimum ten transplant team members discuss the patients that will get or just got a transplant organ, and obviously the organ waiting list. The director of the Dutch kidney patients association gives his view on the German scandal and on the Dutch situation. Video link!

Women and porn

Canadian documentary maker Sheona McDonald from Dimestore Productions got the commission to make a pilot for a documentary about Woman and porn. Over the last years woman became much more active in the porn industry. As producers and as end users. In the Netherlands Dusk TV, a special channel broadcasts women porn 24 hours a day, and after the sudden success of Fifty shades of grey from by the British author E. L. James, women and porn are definitely in the spotlight. Sheona interviews the founder and the director of Dusk TV and American women porn producer/director Jennifer Lyon Bell, who is based in Amsterdam. For many years porn has been totally heterosexual and male orientated. With the new market of female end users, the approach changes completely. Dusk TV already came up with a new name: 'porna'.

Needles found in airline sandwiches

The FBI is investigating how needles came to be placed in sandwiches served on four Delta Airline flights from Amsterdam to the US on Sunday. The sandwiches were produced by Amsterdam catering company Gate Gourmet, which has launched its own investigation into the incident. Needles were found in five turkey sandwiches on flights to Atlanta, Seattle and Minneapolis. As soon as the needles were discovered, flight crew replaced the sandwiches with pizza, news agency AP reported.

Activities: research, get actual information, research footage and provide data agencies and archives.

15 July 2012

Ren TV

Guests from the future banned?

There is a rumour that a Russian series for kids “Guest from the future” is banned by a court in Amsterdam. This science fiction children series was made in 1985 and many kids in Soviet Union were in love with it and especially with the main character of this movie Alisa Selezneva. The series was based on the novel “One Hundred Years Ahead” by Kir Bulychev.

Activities: research.

22 June 2012

ABC News

Forest boy turns out to be Dutch

Robin van Helsum persuaded Berlin officials he was an orphaned 'Forest Boy' who lived in the woods. Now his Dutch identity is revealed - and his troubled story with it. ABC News wants confirmation the forest boy is Dutch, more information about his life and contact to family and friends.

New EU rights for the accused

A European directive, officially entitled "on the right of information in criminal proceedings", was adopted last in April by the Council, after the European Parliament approved it last December. It will enter into force upon publication, but will give Member States a two-year period to pass legislation to transpose it into national law. First, it gives any suspect or accused person to receive adequate information on (some of) their procedural rights, including the right to a lawyer, the right to legal aid when applicable, the right to remain silent. When the suspect or accused person is deprived of liberty, this information must be provided in writing. When he is not deprived of liberty (and for instance he is questioned by the police while at large), this information may be provided orally or in writing, Member States will be free to choose. Euronews Right On visits England and the Netherlands to see how the actual system works, where it went wrong and how the new rules will be implemented. In England somebody explains how he did not get any rights after being arrested in Portugal, and in the Netherlands a criminal lawyer, a judge and the head of a cell block in a police station give their views. The lawyer is extremely happy with the improvement and it turns out that the Dutch police have most of the new rules already in place. Video link!

Waste of EU subsidies and corruption

The program ORF Weltjournal will focus on European subsidies and especially how these subsidies are wasted and how corruption plays a role.

Activities: research Dutch angles.

12 May 2012

Euronews Reporter

The Dutch face austerity

The TV-program Euronews Reporter sends a reporter to make background reportage about the crisis in the Netherlands. In the report a portrait of an unemployed skipper and his daughter and from a freelance builder, and one that just has been fired. Two economists gives their pro- and anti-Europe and Euro views and in the Dutch money museum a curator explains the history of the previous monetary unions and former Dutch treasurer Cees Maas explains that the Euro is not in a crisis, but the states are - because they have spent too much. At the end also finance minister Jan Kees de Jager explains that the Dutch will meet the 3% deficit rule and will work hard to keep the triple status.Video link!

Crisis in the Netherlands

After it became clear that the Dutch also need to come up with serious budget cuts to reach the European 3% deficit rule, the French Swiss correspondent comes to the Netherlands to make a report about the crisis in the Netherlands. How is it possible that such a rich EU state has such deficit problems, and why are there so many families that need to survive with the help of food banks. In a food bank in a suburb of Rotterdam people explain what they think what went wrong and a politician from the Socialist Party gives his views, showing the large amount of empty office space, and houses for sale. It seems reforms are very much needed.

Activities: research, set-up and planning, accompany filming.

24 April 2012

NHK News

Debate after collapse Dutch government

Straight after the Dutch Cabinet fell, a debate is organised in the Lower House. Main theme is the necessity to keep to the European 3% deficit rule and the accompanying cuts. After many weeks of budget talks failed, and when it becomes clear that elections will be held in September the political confrontation is inevitable.

Collapse Dutch cabinet

On Monday April 23 is becomes clear that Geert Wilders pulled the plug out of the vital budget talks after 7 weeks. This means that that since the toleration of the PVV stops and the majority of the Dutch cabinet disappeared. Prime minster Mark Rutte does not have any choice but to ask Queen Beatrix for the resignation of his cabinet.

Why Ajax fans identify themselves with jews

Since the seventies of the last century the fans of the Amsterdam football club Ajax identify themselves with the Jews. Although Ajax is not an official Jewish club, many of the supporters sing and yell 'Jews, Jews, Jews' during every match. A Dutch foundation against anti-Semitism wants the supporters to stop using the term Jew as a nickname, even though discrimination has nothing to do with it. The problem is that the tradition evokes anti-Semitic utterances from the supporters of opponents. Most of the Ajax supporters are proud of their "Jewish identity", and do not want to stop using it. But there are also older Jewish supporters Ajax fans that are hurt by the chanting. In the meantime Ajax, the Amsterdam mayor, the supporters association and a few rabbi’s try to find a solution. The documentary researches the remarkable nickname tradition, the link between Ajax and the Jews and what the Jewish identity actually means in practice. The Dutch Jewish broadcaster De Joodse Omroep will broadcast the 60 minutes documentary about Ajax and the identification with the Jewish culture in autumn 2013 .

Activities: research, gather and meet main protagonists for the documentary, make a basic scenario/plan.

2 April 2012

REN TV

10 years euthanasia policy

On Monday April 2, 2012, it was exactly 10 years ago that the Dutch where the first in the world to pass a law that legalised euthanasia. On this historic day Ren TV broadcasts background news reportage about the law, and how it works in practice. While in Russia euthanasia is very controversial and illegal, the Netherlands has ten years of experience with ending life. The director of the Association of Voluntary Euthanasia and ex-family doctor explains how the ending life procedure works and according to what rules euthanasia can be executed. The director also explains why the Netherlands has an End Life clinic and mobile euthanasia teams, for patients that want their life to be ended but where the doctors do not go along. A daughter of a euthanasied father explains why the legalisation is so important, and how peaceful her terminally ill father died. The chairman of a pro-life patients association explains why they have the pro-life declaration, as a reaction of the euthanasia declaration of the NVVE.

Right wing voters in Netherlands

During the French presidential elections Euronews broadcasts a special program. One of the issues is the renewed popularity of the extreme right party Front National. A background reportage looks at the reasons behind the increase of populism in France and Europe. Why became Front National so popular again? What are the reasons why people vote for extreme right? Why do the voters reject the traditional parties? French Front National voters explain why. To put Front National in the European context Euronews make a cross profile of the PVV, the Freedom Party, from Geert Wilders. The PVV grew enormously over the last years and is now tolerating the conservative coalition. Correspondent Sophie Desjardin visits the north of Amsterdam, a district where a majority of the population voted for the PVV, to find out where the PVV is different from Front National and where they have similar ideas. In the run down idealistic garden village, many shops went bankrupt, the authorities seem to take no notice of the inhabitants and people live more and more on their own. An anti-authoritarian, anti-migrants and anti-Europe attitude is the result. Video link!

Abuse and castration in Dutch church

Also the representatives of the Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands abused many young boys and girls over the last decades. And also in the Netherlands a special commission is appointed to research the cases of abuse. Now it also becomes clear that besides the abuse, also boys have been castrated after the accusation of homosexuality. One case was reported to the commission by the Rogge brothers, but never ended up in the report. For over 50 years Cornelius and IJsbrand Rogge did their best to report the abuse and castration of Henk Heithuis, but nothing came out of it. The story finally gets attention when a Dutch journalist writes an article about the Heithuis case. The Rogge brothers met Heithuis in Japan after the castration. Henk was very sick and was send back to Amsterdam where the open minded Rogge mother helped him. He was send to a sexologist, got hormones, totally recovered and started to press charges against the church. Before a trial could start Henk Heithuis died in a suspicious car accident. A policeman took away all the evidence just before the Rogge brothers and in this way the case was swept under the carpet for over 50 years.

East European workers in the Netherlands

After the commotion and critics about the PVV website to report annoyance by East European immigrant workers, the Euronews legal program Right On comes to the Netherlands to make a reportage about Polish immigrant workers. In a green house Polish workers explain why they work in the Netherlands, and what they think about the PVV website. The director of an employment agency specialised in Polish workers states that Polish workers mostly work hard and are vital for the Dutch economy. The founder of the migrant workers support group Migrada helps stranded workers, and plea's for better European legislation. The support group created a special information site for the east European workers in the Netherlands. Video link!

Red Light District documentary

A three times 50 minute documentary with the title 'A clean sweep for the Red Light District' will be broadcasted on March 19 and 26, and the 2nd of April 2012 by the Dutch program NCRV Dokument. In the summer of 2007 the Dutch city council developed an ambitious plan to stop the criminality and the degradation of the red light district. The new policy has the goal to close a large part of the prostitution windows and coffee shops. This has serious consequences for the companies that rent windows to prostitutes and the owners of coffee shops, gambling halls and sex theatres. In the documentary trilogy Frans Bromet follows threatened entrepreneurs to find out what the effect is of the new radical policy for the famous red light district in Amsterdam. Video Link 1 ; Link 2 ; Link 3!

Mobile euthanasia teams

In February six specialised teams, each with a doctor, started to carry out euthanasia at the home of patients whose own doctors refuse to do so troughout the Netherlands. Patients also have to face a future of "unbearable, interminable suffering" and both the patient and the doctor - who have to obtain a second opinion - before euthanasia is carried out, must agree there is no cure.

Activities: research.

2 March 2012

NHK News

One year after Fukushima

After the disaster with the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, Japan, the NHK Europe correspondent wants to check out how the Dutch nuclear power plant in Borselle came out of the European stress test, and why the Dutch planned and postponed the construction of a second nuclear power plant.

Activities: research.

24 February 2012

Kurier

Serious brain damage prince Friso

After it finally became clear that the Dutch prince Friso suffered serious brain damage after his avalange accident in Lech, Austrian journalist Ingrid Steiner wants to know what impact the news has in the Netherlands. How popular is the second son of Queen Beatrix and what is the reaction of the Dutch population and media after the sad news became public?

Activities: research latest news and comment.

23 February 2012

SRF Kassensturz

Consumer guarantees in Europe

The Swiss are discussing a possible reform of their consumer guarentee system and have a look around how it is organised elswhere in Europe. The Netherlands has a variable guarentee system. 'After buying a washing machine one obviously gets a guarentee of more than two years', the spokesman of the Dutch consumers' association states.

Activities: research.

17 February 2012

NHK News

North Korean restaurant in EU

While North Korea is known to operate dozens of restaurants across Asia, it is the first time a North Korean restaurant has opened in Europe. The “Pyongyang Restaurant” was launched late last month under a joint venture between North Korea and two Dutch businessmen. The grand opening for the North Korean ambassador in Switzerland is organised on February 17. The NHK Europe correspondent covers the opening and checks out the food and the show. An army of charming hostesses in shining wedding-style dresses presides eagerly over a windowless room decorated with paintings of tulip fields in bloom, corn harvest at sunrise and an overview of Pyongyang. They North Korean waitresses pause between courses to belt out folk songs about friendship and reunification. Although the North Korean officials do not want to be filmed during the ceremony elsewhere, the delegation suddenly appears to check out the restaurant in full operation.

The 11 cities skating tour

The 11 cities tour (Elfstedentocht) is a speed skating tour (with 200 contestants) and a leisure skating tour (with 16,000 skaters) of almost 200 kilometres. It is held in the province of Friesland in the north of the Netherlands, touching each and every city (by history) of the province. It is held when the natural ice along the entire course is at least 15 centimetres thick. Sadly enough the winters are not that cold anymore. The last year that the 11 cities tour was organised was in 1997. Before that that last time was in 1963. After a few very cold weeks in 2012 the Dutch society hopes feverish that the tour will finally happen again. In a late press conference it is announced that the race will not be held because the ice is not thick enough and the thaw will set in too early.

Activities: research, report on outcome press conference.

7 February 2012

NHK News

20 years Maastricht treaty

The Maastricht treaty, signed on 7 February 1992, came into force in November 1993. The treaty heralded both the creation of the European Union, formerly the ‘European economic community’, and the euro as a single currency. Two decades on, it’s attracting the wrath of crisis-struck Europeans. The birthday of the Maastricht treaty is celebrated by former European president of the European Commission Jacques Delors, former commissioner Hans van den Broek, en former Dutch prime minister Wim Kok.

Activities: research and set-up.

25 January 2012

SRF Rundschau

How new bacteria appear in Dutch hospitals

The Maasstad hospital in Rotterdam has been in the news since June this year after the outbreak of an antibiotic bacterium named Klebsiella Oxa-48 that has likely caused the death of 78 people since June. Question arises on how this new bacterium could appear in the Netherlands. Hospital bacteria are not a new phenomenon in the world. In a place where the use of antibiotics is widespread, the risk of resistant bacteria increases likewise. A hospital in the southern region of the Netherlands for example decided to close its IC department on Monday after another bacteria, the so called MRSA , had been detected. This bacterium has become resistant for the most used antibiotics. Thanks to a strict government policy that regulates the use of antibiotics, only 1 percent of the patients are contaminated with this bacteria.

Activities: find, select & organise camera person and equipment.

23 January 2012

SRF Rundschau

Laura Dekker finishes her sailing trip around the world

Saturday Laura Dekker stepped ashore a dock on St. Maarten and finished her sail around the world. The 16 year and four month old Dutch sailor has made an impressive journey for her age. She used one year and one day on her cruise around the globe. Both the Guinness World Record and the World Sailing Speed Record Council say they no longer recognize records for youngest sailors to discourage dangerous attempts. Nonetheless; Laura Dekker has completed a cruise around the world on her own, pushing boundaries of age and courage in a way that inspired a lot of young and old people following her voyage.

Activities: research, set-up, research footage.

16 January 2012

ABC Nightline

Lab-Created Bird Flu Mutation

The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is “deeply concerned” about researchers creating a more contagious and fatal form of the H5N1 bird flu. Researchers in the Netherlands have manipulated the virus to make it more transmissible among humans, and it could potentially kill millions if released into the public.The findings were set to be released in the U.S. journal Science, but the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity, an independent committee that advises the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and other federal agencies, reviewed it last Tuesday and warned that bioterrorists could replicate the study methods to create a weapon of biological warfare.

Activities: research, setup, advice camera crew.

11 January 2012

SRF Rundschau

Involuntary psychiatric treatment convition

In Dutch criminal law a convict can be sentenced to involuntary psychiatric treatment in a special institute called a TBS-clinic. TBS is an abbreviation for "Ter Beschikkingstelling," literally meaning "being placed at disposal." Legally, such a sentence is not regarded as punishment like a prison sentence, but as a special measure. Every convict detained in a TBS-clinic may get temporary leave, after serving a certain time or after some progress in treatment. This is regarded as an essential part of treatment, as the convict will be gradually re-entering society this way. In Swizerland this sytem does not exist.

Activities: research

26 November 2011

BBC Scotland / Eorpa

Stricter Dutch soft drugs policy

As is widely known, the Netherlands has for many years operated a policy of tolerance towards soft drug use. This is not a laissez-faire policy, however, as the distribution of hashish and marijuana to the public is strictly regulated by means of the coffee shop system. A common misconception is that soft drugs have been legalised in Holland whereas in fact cultivation and possession remain a criminal offence. Personal use is tolerated, however, and there are many coffee shops where smoking joints on the premises is allowed. The actual conservative Dutch government decided to start seriously restricting the policy by introducing new measures that have to turn coffee shops into private clubs where only Dutch citizens can purchase soft drugs. Besides this also the restrictive distance between a coffee shop and a school is changed from 250 to 350 meters, and cannabis with more than 15% THC will be regarded as hard drugs, so will be forbidden. Time to talk to coffee shop owners, a specialised lawyer, people that oppose the cannabis ban en the new legislation and to locals that are afraid that annoyance in the streets will rise, due to the sales going back to the street. Is this the end of the successful Dutch soft drugs policy?

The Gregory Halman murder

Gregory Anthony "Greg" Halman (August 26, 1987 – November 21, 2011) was a Dutch professional baseball outfielder. He played with the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. He also played internationally with the Dutch national team, playing in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Greg Halman was stabbed to death on November 21, 2011 in Rotterdam. He was 24 years old. His brother Jason was arrested by police after the incident.

Activities: research, give news updates.

14 November 2011

BBC Scotland / Eorpa

Law proposal ritual slaughter ban

In the Netherlands a proposal to ban Kosher and Halal slaughter methods has moved a step closer to reality, with a majority of the country’s MPs now supporting the ban. Now the law proposal from the unique Party for the Animals will have to be okayed by the Dutch senate. Just before the votes BBC Scotland comes to the Netherlands to discuss this sensitive topic with Islamic slaughterers and butchers, Jewish orthodox, scientists, a religious senator and to the people in the streets.

Dutch asylum seekers system

While in Switzerland the reception of asylum seekers is organised in a very decentralised and bureaucratic way, the Netherlands revised their asylum seekers system seriously over the years. Procedures are as short as possible and the asylum seekers are housed in central reception centres. SF Rundschau wants to have a closer look at the Dutch system.

Problems Romania entering Schengen

The BBC Scotland program Eorpa has been filming in Romania to cover the problems they have entering the Schengen treaty, making free transport of persons and goods possible. There were notable objections from the Dutch and Finnish foreign ministers. For the background reportage an interview with the Dutch minister of Immigration Gerd Leers is needed.

Dutch vote on EFSF

All parliaments of the EU member states have to officially agree to the new European Financial Stability Facility. Just after the Dutch parliament okayed the EFSF, NHK wants the reaction of the Dutch minister of Finance Jan kees de Jager.

Wilders travel plans to Australia

It seems that the leader of the Dutch Freedom Party Geert Wilders is planning to visit Australia somewhere in 2012. The Channel 9 program '60 Minutes' is planning to cover the visit, and to come over to make a portrait of Wilders before he arrives in Australia.

Redlight district documentary

On March 19 and 26 and April 2 this year, three 50 minutes episodes of a documentary about the new policy for the Amsterdam Red Light District will be broadcasted by the Dutch program NCRV Dokument. Since two years camera man and documentary maker Frans Bromet follows entrepreneurs that are affected by the new policy. To policy intends to fight abuse of prostitutes, women trade and criminality by planning to close down 40% of the prostitution windows and many of the coffee shops. Some question if this plan will work, others fear that the closure of prostitution windows will only make things worse for the women. There is still some time to finish the last filming before the final editing will start. Video Link 1 ; Link 2 ; Link 3!

Dutch populism

After the horrific killings in Norway and the reference the perpetrator made to Geert Wilders, the leader of the Dutch Freedom Party (PVV), the new EU correspondent Takashi Ichinose visits the Netherlands to find out more about the Dutch populist wave of the last years and about the status of the multicultural society. He meets MP Ahmed Marcouch, sociologist and writer Paul Scheffer and he talks with inhabitants of the city Almere to find out why the PVV turned out to be so popular in the last elections.

Activities: research & advice, set-up & planning, accompany filming.

24 July 2011

Manoto TV Unique TV

Googoosh Music Academy

After the first very successful Googoosh Music Academy, a second episode is produced by the British production company Unique TV for the Iranian satellite broadcaster Manoto TV. The show is an X-factor like format where the Iranian singer and actress Googoosh accompanies and tests a selection of Iranian musical talent living abroad. Presenter Raha Etemadi visits two persons in the Netherlands that have been selected to film their first reaction.

The coffee shop permit

After On 27 May 2011, the Dutch government presented a series of proposals aimed at transforming coffee shops into closed clubs. These clubs would have a maximum number of members, all of whom have to reside in the Netherlands, would have to provide members with a special club pass, and would have to record consumer related information. In addition, they would have to be located at a distance of at least 350 m from secondary schools and schools providing intermediate vocational education. The minister of justice wants to implement the new policy at the end of the year, starting with the coffee shops in the south of the country. Swiss EU correspondent Jonas Projer visits a coffee shop in Maastricht and one in Amsterdam, to speak about the new policy with the owners and the clients.

Looking into the Dutch energy system

After While the Japanese society is recovering from the last earthquake, the tsunami and the disaster with the Fukushima nuclear power plants that followed, reporter Ryusuke Kimura is send on a trip through Europe to investigate the actual situation in the European Energy market and how it is structured. In Switzerland he checks out the way the Swiss make electricity with hydropower, in Germany he researches the new policy to abandon the use of nuclear power and in the Netherlands he investigates how the liberalisation of the energy market turned out.

The Hairy Bikers Bake-ation

Two Blokes, Two Bikes and well over two thousand miles - the Hairy Bikers are baking their way round Europe. From Baguettes to Black Forest Gateaux, Croissants to Ciabatta, the boys are on a road trip to find the very best of baking in continental Europe. On their travels they'll meet Europe's finest patissiers and bread makers, but they'll also meet local food heroes who cook-up their villages' daily bread, cakes, pizzas, rolls, tortes, and so much more. The Hairy Bikers also travel and bake in The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg.

Serial killer Martin

After It turns out that Martin N. from Hamburg admitted killing the 9 year old Dennis in 2001. He probably killed more boys and for a while he was also suspect in the unsolved murder on the 10 year old Dutch boy Nicky Verstappen in 1998. Although DNA test made clear that Martin N. has nothing to do with the case, ZDF MonaLisa wants to interview Nicky's mother about the case.

Activities: trace mother, request interview.

2 May 2011

SRF 10 vor 10

Mega Farms

Since a few years the seize of Dutch pig-, chicken- and cow farms is seriously increasing. Although it is not clear what the size of a mega farm exactly is, usually it is a farm with a minimum of 12.500 pigs, or poultry farms with a minimum of 185.00 laying hens or 360.000 chickens. But there are also mega farms with 35.000 pigs or 1,2 million chickens. Since these kind of farms are now also moved to special agricultural development areas, it causes serious annoyance for the people living around. Some of them have teamed up to protest against new mega farms being build.

Activities: research, set-up.

1 May 2011

Bromet & Dochters NCRV

Red light district documentary

Early next year three 50 minutes episodes of the documentary about the new policy for the Amsterdam Red Light District will be broadcasted by the Dutch program NCRV Dokument. Since two years camera man and documentary maker Frans Bromet follows entrepreneurs that are affected by the new policy. To policy intends to fight abuse of prostitutes, women trade and criminality by planning to close down 40% of the prostitution windows and many of the coffee shops. Some question if this plan will work, others fear that the closure of prostitution windows will only make things worse for the women. The last weeks of filming are mainly used to find out more about the prostitutes, most of them from the east of Europe, and how much abuse and criminality is actually taking place. A difficult task since the prostitution branch is a very closed world and practically none of the women want to talk.Video Link 1 ; Link 2 ; Link 3!

Gotovina trial

On the day the verdict in the Ante Gotovina trial, a former Croatian general, at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, the Swiss public broadcaster Schweizer Fernsehen needs an interview with the former Swiss public prosecutor Stefan Waespi.

Tulip mania

The BBC documentary series History of the World covers the story of the tulip trade in Amsterdam, on the first original stock market of the world. Also the Tulip Mania plays a role in the documentary. Tulip mania was a period in the Dutch Golden Age during which contract prices for bulbs of the recently introduced tulip reached extraordinarily high levels and then suddenly collapsed.

The bad memory pill

Professor Merel Kindt from the University in Amsterdam managed to reduce fear. By administering the Beta-blocker Propranolol, the research team managed to weaken the memories of fear of testees. A very interesting research result is the fact that the fear response does not return after some time. Although until recently it was the assumption that it is impossible to erase memories of fear, the researchers proof that interfering in the human emotional memory is actually possible.

Dutch provincial elections

The Provincial Elections are especially important because the Dutch have a minority government with the support of the Party of the Freedom from Geert Wilders. Although the delegates from the provinces only vote for the Senate at the end of May, it is exciting to find out what the actual political situation is in the Netherlands and if the minority cabinet will get a majority in the Senate so they actually can bring into force the restrictive anti-immigration and anti-Europe laws. Also a budget cut of around 20 billion needs to be approved in the upcoming years. In the actual divided Dutch political system it is for sure that it will be a tight race.

Activities: research and report on outcome elections.

25 January 2011

BBC Scotland Eorpa

Repatriation policy for Bosnians

Many concerns have been raised in Europe and further afield about the numbers being prescribed drugs for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). But in the Netherlands, where ten times as many people are being prescribe drugs like Ritalin in comparison with ten years ago, many are abusing the drug. It can be bought over the internet, and people abusing it either snort it or even inject it, giving very different results to what was intended. A young woman that was addicted to sniffing Ritalin for years and her mother tell their story and give their point of view. A specialised ADHD doctor explains what kind of disorder ADHD is and what the working of Ritalin is. A researcher that just published a research after the improper use of Ritalin explains what they found out.

Improper use of ritalin

Many concerns have been raised in Europe and further afield about the numbers being prescribed drugs for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). But in the Netherlands, where ten times as many people are being prescribe drugs like Ritalin in comparison with ten years ago, many are abusing the drug. It can be bought over the internet, and people abusing it either snort it or even inject it, giving very different results to what was intended. A young woman that was addicted to sniffing Ritalin for years and her mother tell their story and give their point of view. A specialised ADHD doctor explains what kind of disorder ADHD is and what the working of Ritalin is. A researcher that just published a research after the improper use of Ritalin explains what they found out.

Live weather forecast

For a few ABC Good Morning America live weather forecasts in Amsterdam by the ABC weatherman Sam Champion, filming licences and cooperation of a cafe, a chocolate maker and drivers of so called mini-moped cars and extras and canal boats to star in the background, have to be organised.

Transport system football supporters

Because of huge problems with rioting football supporters in Switzerland, resulting in serious vandalism in trains, a team from the Swiss railways visits the Netherlands to see how the Dutch transport their supporters by train. For many years the Dutch have the so-called ‘Combi-arrangement’. Supporters are transported in trains from the Dutch railways, but it is all paid by the football clubs. Including the possible damage. Totally screened off by fences, steel tunnels and roll-down shutters, and accompanied by special riot police and security teams, the supporters cannot riot or damage trains anymore. If they do, they will not be allowed to join the trip to the next away game of their team anymore. Specialised reporter Marc Messchenmoser travels along with the Combi-arrangement train trip from football club Feyenoord Rotterdam to PSV Eindhoven. A scoop, because it is the first time a cameraman is allowed to travel along in the train. Although Feyenoord looses the game with 10-0 no riots or damage to trains are reported.

Exhibit openings Maxima & Beatrix

In two days both princess Maxima and Queen Beatrix open and visit two exhibitions in the Netherlands. Maxima opens 'The treasures from the forbidden city', an exhibition of 18th century musical clocks, of which many have been restored by restorers from the Dutch Musical clock museum in Utrecht. At the time many musical clocks where sold from the West to China. A day later Beatrix visits an exhibition about human trafficking in a few sea containers outside the parliament in The Hague. The German boulevard program Brisant wants video footage from the two events.

Activities: research and planning, book crew, direction, accompany satellite feed.

14 October 2010

Bromet & dochters NCRV

Red light district documentary

For the Dutch documentary program NCRV Dokument, director and interviewer Frans Bromet is following people that work and live in the Amsterdam Red Light District to see what the effects are of the new restrictive policy for the area. A majority of the local politicians wants to clean up the district by closing down many prostitution windows and coffee shops.

Activities: research and set-up, planning, accompany filming, sound.

4 October 2010

ORF Tagesschau

Start Wilders trial

The Amsterdam Public Prosecutor summons Geert Wilders for offending a group of people and inciting to discrimination and hatred. In June 2008, the Public Prosecutor decided that Mr. Wilders’s statements were not liable to punishment and dropped the case. Those who had pressed charges successfully instituted a so-called Procedure of Complaint at the Court of Appeals in Amsterdam, and forced prosecution. Austrian correspondent Raimund Löw comes over to Amsterdam to cover the first day of the trial against the successful populist Dutch politician Geert Wilders.

The Wilders phenomenon

While a new Dutch conservative government is formed, with possible support of the Party of Freedom of Geert Wilders, the Austrian background TV-program Weltjournal sends reporter Alexander Steinbach to do a background story on the Wilders phenomena. The reportage is part of a series about the actual wave of populism in Europe. In a series of interviews with politicians, scientists, Muslims, a Jewish journalist and people in the streets of Almere, the city where the PVV won in the last local elections, Alexander Steinbach tries to get an idea of the reasons behind the success of Wilders.

The worlds strictest parents

The London based production house Twenty Twenty is filming in the Netherlands for an episode of The Worlds strictest parents. In the one-hour program, two British teenagers are sent to live with a family abroad, to experience life in their country under their rules. While the filming of the teenagers visiting a Dutch family is already taking place, still a location for voluntary work for one of the protagonists has to be found.

Activities: research calls and mails to find organisation for voluntary work in the east of the Netherlands.

10 September 2010

Schweizer Fernsehen

Research Dutch formats

Every year the Swiss TV channel Schweizer Fernsehen looks around for idea's for new TV-formats for the new season.

Recce locations Weather forecast

Sam Champion, the weatherman of the ABC program Good Morning America, plans to do a few weather forecasts from the centre of Amsterdam. An ABC research team comes over to Amsterdam to find the right live location, a good hotel and some extra local stories for the weatherman to cover. Activities: advise on live location, drive recce crew, research live locations, some hotels and other possible filming locations.

6 September 2010

SF 10 vor 10

Bike registration system

Since a bicycle is stolen in Switzerland every ten minutes, the authorities decided to something to fight the theft. A possibility is to start the registration of bikes, just like cars. In the Netherlands a bicycle registration system was introduced in 2000.

Activities: research and set-up, book camera crew, direction and interviews, accompany satellite feed.

1 September 2010

ABC News

Arrest terror suspects Amsterdam airport

Two United States residents of Yemeni descent flying from Chicago to Amsterdam are detained by the Dutch police after landing. American officials fear it might be a dry run for a terrorist plot.

The worlds strictest parents

Following the huge success of the first and second series, the BBC is looking for role model families in the Netherlands to take part in a third series of factual entertainment programs on parenting. In each one-hour program, two British teenagers are sent to live with a family abroad, to experience life in their country under their rules. In the last series, the BBC sent overindulged teenagers from the UK to live with families over the world, from Jamaica to India, Alabama to South Africa.

Activities: research to find Dutch candidate families.

12 July 2010

Tagesschau/10 vor 10

After the world cup footbal final

After the Dutch national team lost the world cup final from Spain the fans are in total despair after not winning the world cup for the third time. Depressed and dazed the inhabitants of the most orange street of Amsterdam read their newspapers. They blame the referee who gave a record of yellow cards and a red one in the bad and violent match. Although the Dutch team is heavily criticised for playing such a defensive and violent game the orange street inhabitants are proud of having the second strongest team in the world.

Before the world cup football final

The Dutch are preparing for their third world cup final against Spain. From the Museum Square Swiss TV reporters watch the final match together with 180.000 crazy fans. Hundreds of TV journalists and crews are setting up for the live coverage of the world cup final. Fans are optimistic of the chance for the Dutch to final win the world cup.

Activities: reseach and organise accreditation, research live stand-up location.

9 July 2010

ARD Morgenmagazin

Dutch reach the world cup final

The German ARD morning program Morgenmagazin visits the Orionstraat, the street elected as the most orange street in Amsterdam. In three live broadcasts Michael Heussen checks out the wild orange decorations and meets some the inhabitants totally dressed in orange, including lion caps and tails. They cannot wait to see the final. A wonderful climax after their national team won all the world cup qualification- and tournament matches. Only a few hours to wait.

Dutch play Uruguay in semi final

After winning from Brazil the Dutch football team will play Uruguay in the semi-final. On the day of the semi-final Swiss TV comes to Amsterdam to pick up the atmosphere before and after the game. Getting so close to the final the Dutch become totally orange crazy. The fan shops are getting sold out and in cafe Orange the customers are already over excited. They are all pretty sure the Dutch will reach the final. In the Orionstraat, elected as the most orange street in Amsterdam, the fans are getting prepared to watch the game. They hope the Dutch will play the Germans, so the trauma of losing the 1974 final can be wiped out. Live coverage and stand-ups from the Museum square, where 120.000 crazy fans watch the match.

Activities: research, set-up and planning, accompany filming.

2 July 2010

NHK News

Dutch play Brazil in quarter final

NHK news wants to know what the Dutch think about the upcoming world cup quarter final match between the Netherlands and Brazil. Filming Amsterdam in orange, vox pops at a Dutch team fan shop and genral views of the orange decorations in the fantic North of town.

Joran van der Sloot talks

The notorious Joran van der Sloot, known for his connection to the Natalee Holloway disappearance in Aruba, is arrested in Chili and brought to Peru as a suspect for the murder of Stephany Flores Ramirez a Peruvian young woman. After a few days in jail two Dutch journalists manage to interview him.

Activities: translation of newspaper articles.

19 June 2010

NHK News

Dutch play Japan in the world cup football

The Japanese EU correspondent Susumu Kojima comes to the Netherlands to cover the world cup football match between the Netherlands and Japan. First he visits Venlo; a town in the south of the country were the Japanese key footballer Keisuke Honda played for the local club VVV Venlo. Filming 'orange mania' atmosphere in Amsterdam. Covering the viewing of the match with Dutch fans on the Texel square, one of the most colorful orange fan area's in town.

Dutch innovation

Since the expected budget cuts is the main issue in the Dutch national elections, the Swiss correspondent comes to the Netherlands to see how the Dutch copes with the economic crisis. Innovation and durability seems to be the key words. Some interesting existing Dutch brands like TomTom and Bugaboo and new products from the yearly Dutch innovation top 100 pass in review. The scientist of the agricultural University of Wageningen shows a newly developed fish that is similar to the endangered tuna fish, and the owner of a fish farms show how animal and environmental friendly fish is produced on land.

Activities: research, advise, set-up and planning, book hotel rooms.

8 June 2010

SF Tagesschau

Preparing for Dutch national elections

After it turns out that the Dutch national elections will be a fight between the liberal VVD and the social democrat PvdA, Swiss news covers ‘Het Lagerhuis’ (House of Commons), a very popular life Dutch discussion program where a mix of Dutch citizens discuss actual topics in a similar setting as in the English parliament. On the day before the elections Liberal leader Mark Rutte and Social Democrat leader Job Cohen are the special guests. The perfect moment to interview and portrait both politicians, and to ask the debaters and public about their opinion.

Oil spill cleaning system

While the oil already flows into the Gulf of Mexico Dutch for many weeks, the Dutch turn out to have a very effective system to clean up oil in open sea. The systems cleaned up most of the oil after the ‘Prestige oil spill’ in 2002 and the system is on standby in many European harbours. American laws still block the use of the system. NBC News looks for video footage of the cleaning system.

Activities: research & find video footage, organise footage delivery.

1 June 2010

Kurier

The popularity of Wilders

Political journalist Ingrid Steiner from the Austrian newspaper Kurier comes to the Netherlands to cover the Dutch national elections and especially the popularity of the Party of Freedom (PVV) from Geert Wilders. She interviews the Dutch political scientist and writer Paul Scheffer and Muslim politician Fatima Elatik, and vists a heavily guarded political rally from the PVV in the outskirts of The Hague.

The alledged swindler Ken J.

For a Welsh choirboy, it was the stuff of dreams. Within the walls of Caernarfon Castle, Kenner Elias J. proudly held aloft the white cross at the investiture of Prince Charles as the Prince of Wales. Thirty years later, the charismatic Mr. J. cuts an equally spiritual figure at the head of an evangelical movement that claims to be leading hundreds of prison inmates towards a crime-free future. But when money is at stake, this life-long churchgoer seems to lose any regard for Christian teachings. An investigation by The Independent has found the national co-ordinator of a religious community, that has been allowed to take control of entire prison wings, is a consummate conman with over 70 criminal convictions. Earlier this year Ken J. is arrested in the Netherlands, and released a month later. BBC Wales wants to know if he is still in the Netherlands. It runs out that Ken J. had already ripped off all the Dutch hotels where he stayed.

Activities: research.

18 May 2010

NHK News

Iraq war inquiry

The London bureau chief from the Japanese broadcaster NHK is covering the outcome of both the English and Dutch parliamentary inquiries after the decision to participate in the war in Iraq.

Activities: research and advice.

7 May 2010

ORF Weltjournal

Muslim erotic mail order company

El Asira, the first company that sells erotic products via internet is based in the Netherlands. For the Austrian background reportage program Weltjournal a reporter is send to the Netherlands to cover the story. He interviews the strict Muslim founder, an imam, a young Muslim woman and youngsters at a community center.

Innovation in Dutch greenhouse sector

More and more Swiss farmers stop farming. Only last year 860 Swiss farmers stopped farming. Since the Swiss are planning to liberalise trade in the agricultural branch farmers are afraid for the European competition. Correspondent Christoph Nufer comes to the Netherlands to make a reportage about the innovative Dutch greenhouse sector for the background reportage program '10 vor 10'. He visits a red- and green pepper green house of the size of 40 football pitches, where 12.000 tons of peppers are produced every .He also visits a company that produces high quality cherry tomatoes. They even came up with a special name, the honey tomato, since they are so sweet. Although one would expect that cultivating in green houses is very bad for the environment, it turns out to be the opposite. Most greenhouse farmer’s producer their own energy, and give the energy surplus back to the grid. Also earth heat is widely used. Only drawback is the lack of space to produce. According to an environmental lobbyist the Dutch should stop exporting large quantities of vegetables and fruit. Instead they should export the knowledge and start to produce together with the farmers abroad.

Red light district documentary

On July 2 2009, a large majority of the Amsterdam council voted in favor of the ‘Coalition 1012 plan’. The plan has to change the Amsterdam Red Light district into a 'safer, more beautiful and more livable area'. It involves the closure of around half of the prostitute windows and many of the coffee shops. For the Dutch documentary program NCRV Dokument director/cameraman Frans Bromet follows and interviews a variety of protagonists living and working in the district, to see how the new city hall plans take form and how the new policy will influence their lives. The Amsterdam city hall is putting the policy into practice trying to buy out or expropriate some of the window renters and some of the coffee shop owners only got a last license for another few years.

Swiss financing of tar sand companies

The Dutch economic research bureau Profundo did a research after the financing of tar sands companies by the Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse for Greenpeace Switzerland. SF journalist Jonas Projer comes to Amsterdam to interview one of the researchers.

The Dutch food branch

For a background reportage about the innovative Dutch food branch NHK sends reporter Ryusuke Kimura to film in the modern and durable greenhouse sector, in The Restaurant of the Future in scientific Food Valley district and at a huge chicken farm, where eggs are produced for medicines. Interviews at the laboratories of the Japanese soya sauce producer Kikkoman and the University hospital in Maastricht.

The end of unemployment

In the Netherlands unemployment is relatively low compared to the rest of Europe. In Rotterdam politicians even claim to end employment by forcing people to take a job or do a course. In Switzerland there are also plans to force young people to work. Correspondent Christoph Nufer comes to Rotterdam to see how the system works. Filming a street cleaning team at work and portray an unemployed fire fighter that had to take the job of street sweeper. Interview with the responsible alderman, and filming at a job course center and a supermarket where unemployed help to pack groceries for a small extra fee.

Portrait Dutch football team

In the Netherlands, Denmark and Cameroon NHK Sports journalists Yuki Ohba makes a series of portraits of the teams that the national football team of Japan will meet in the first round of the World Cup in South Africa. Filming at a training and press conference at Ajax Amsterdam and Feyenoord Rotterdam, interview with Dutch and Danish internationals, filming at football match Feyenoord against Roda JC and an extensive interview with Dutch football journalist Willem Vissers.

Dutch local elections

Background reportage about the Dutch local elections 2010. Covering a radio debate and interview local politician from Wilders Party of Freedom. Filming atmosphere and street interviews in the Schilderswijk, a multicultural area in the center of The Hague. Follow politicians of the liberal party VVD campaigning in their stronghold in The Hague, and Social Democrat leader Wouter Bos handing out roses in the center of town.

Activities: research, set-up and planning, accompany filming.

1 March 2010

BBC Scotland / Eorpa

Local elections in the Netherlands

The collapse of the Dutch government has presented the Dutch electorate with a problem to which no easy solution seems obvious. The government has split over the question of troops in Afghanistan, but this can be seen as merely the explosive element that has blown a precariously built coalition apart. The nature of Dutch politics makes it inevitable that another coalition will follow, possibly consisting of up to four parties, which would hardly be conducive to political coherency. As the larger parties fight amongst each other, the smaller parties are likely to reap the benefits – among them Geert Wilders’s anti-immigration Party of Freedom (PVV). Since local elections are held just before the national elections it will be the indicator to see how the Dutch political landscape will look the upcoming years. Christian democrat State Secretary of Defense and spin doctor Jack de Vries and resigned Minister Eberhart give their views, portraits and interviews at the Amsterdam Polder Mosque and filming campaigning in Almere, a new town in the polder, and one of just two in which the PVV from Wilders will stand in the local elections.

Who do you think you are

Who Do You Think You Are? is a British genealogy documentary series that has aired on the BBC since 2004. The series is produced by Wall to Wall. In each episode, a celebrity goes on a journey to trace his or her family tree. The actor Hugh Quarshie, from the hospital soaps series Holby City, uncovers a love story that challenges our understanding of Europe’s role in Africa during the 19th century.

German employment minister visit

The German employment minister is visiting the Netherlands. A TV-crew from the German public TV channel ARD is following the minister. Video material needs to be picked up and fed via satellite to Germany as soon as possible.

Birthday in Amsterdam

The English broadcaster ITV produces a one off program called Four Parties. Four different protagonists attend each others 21 year birthday parties, judging which one is the nicest. One of them decides to celebrate in Amsterdam.

Activities: accompany research cafes, restaurants, venues and clubs, organise permission to film, advise locations for general views of Amsterdam.

16 January 2010

SF Rundschau

The success of TNT Express

In Switzerland a new chef of the Swiss Post is taken on to modernise the system. The Swiss were too late with privatising and the Dutch postal company TNT Express is portrayed as an example of successful innovation and expansion. The Dutch Post was privatised as one of the first in Europe and they managed to buy the Australian company TNT, becoming one of the four largest postal companies in the world.

Who do you think you are

The English production company Wall to Wall produces the program Who Do You Think You Are for the BBC. The program finds out the genealogical tree and information of a famous English person and takes this person around the world to discover the history of the ancestors. This time the path leads to the Netherlands and Africa. A Dutch person has a family archive that goes back many centuries and it turns out he has pictures of some of the relatives of the protagonist.

The body scanner

Ater the failed attack on flight 253 landing in Detroit the Dutch decided to use body scanners to scan all passengers leaving for the US. Besides the body scanners that were already tested, the Dutch authorities orders 20 extra scanners. Swiss TV wants to see how the body scanner works in practice, if the radiation is dangerous and if privacy is protected. A specialist and a spokesperson from the airport explain how the new machine works and terrorism expert Edwin Bakker gives his views. The latter emphasises that the anti-terror measures work pretty well, since the attack on flight 253 failed.

Flight 253 press confrence

The Nigerian youngster that tried to blow up a Flight 253 while landing in Detroit with explosives in his underwear, took the plane from the Amsterdam airport Schiphol. The Dutch Minister of Internal Affairs gives a press conference to bring across what they know about the attack and to announce that body scanners will be used to scan all passengers leaving for the US.

Activities: research, book crew, direction and interviews with minister and the Dutch coordinator of the fight against terrorism, accompany satellite feed.

21 December 2009

SF / 10 vor 10

Headscarf ban on Flemish schools

After the Swiss decided for a minaret ban by referendum, the Swiss TV-program '10 vor 10' wants to have a closer look at anti-Islam legislation in the rest of Europe. Besides France now also Belgium has decided to ban head-scarfs on schools. In Antwerp the last two schools decided to ban head scarfs as well, resulting in demonstrations and in girls staying away from school. Some young Muslim women and some Flemish feminists decide to establish the 'boss over our own heads' organisation. Correspondent Christoph Nufer has a talk with the head master of one of the schools and with one of the founders of the 'boss over our own heads' movement.

Gaming addiction therapy

The Smith and Jones clinic in Amsterdam treats gaming addicts from all over the world. The therapy partly happens together with drug addicts. The director of the clinic fears that gaming addiction will become the largest addiction in the world.

Activities: research, set-up and planning.

19 November 2009

ORF Weltjournal

Swine fever vaccinations

Like many other countries Austria is getting ready for the vaccination of all its inhabitants against Swine fever. The Dutch seems to have a different approach. They only want to vaccinate people that run extra risks to become infected.

Activities: research Dutch actuality and approach, research Dutch specialists.

27 October 2009

ARD Monitor

Dutch troops in Afghanistan

For a investigative reportage about the Dutch military presence in Afghanistan the ARD TV program Monitor needs extra information.

Activities: research purchase of certain military equipment, find background info and find specialists.

14 October 2009

BBC Radio Scotland

Plan for new north European league

Scottish BBC radio produce a background reportage about a possible new football league in the north of Europe. For this interviews with Dutch football specialists are needed.

Activities: research and advise on Dutch football specialists.

8 October 2009

SF 10 vor 10

The Swiss minaret ban

A right wing party has officially requested a referendum to see if a majority of the Swiss are in favor of a ban of minarets. Since the Netherlands is known to house a large number of mosques and some are constructed with minarets the EU correspondent visits Rotterdam. He interviews Rotterdam inhabitants in front of the Mevlana mosque, he interviews populist member of the Rotterdam council Marco Pastors, he visits what seems to be the future largest mosque in Europe, a mosque that is still under construction and meets the Dutch architect and the representatives of the mosque.

Successful policy to get homeless off the streets

In 2000 the Dutch city of Utrecht started with a new approach to handle the problems with homeless people. The city hall stimulated cooperation between all the different departments and organisations helping and handling the homeless and in many Utrecht neighborhoods special hostels were set-up to house the people without a roof above their head. In 2004 also Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague took over the new approach. Now Utrecht is proud to state that all the homeless are off the streets and most of them have a job or other activities. Even ‘Utrecht Underground’ is organised, a tour led by ex-homeless that explain how life was on the streets, including visiting the locations in and under the Utrecht shopping center Hoog Catherijne where they slept and used drugs.

Activities: research and set-up, planning filming day, book cameraman, accompany filming and translations.

3 October 2009

SF Eco

The bad reputation of Cablecom

Cablecom, sister company of UPC, is the company with the worst reputation in Switzerland. A journalist form the economical program ECO comes to the Netherlands to talk to officials at the headquarters of UPC Europe. Experts give their views on the reputation of UPC in the Netherlands, and the way the company is run from the United States.

Activities: research the reputation of UPC in the Netherlands, find specialists.

1 October 2009

SF 10 vor 10

Consumer health logo

The Swiss are discussing to introduce a logo so consumers can see if a food product is healthy or not. Part of the reportages is filmed in the Netherlands because a consumer health logo is already implemented a while ago. In a Dutch supermarket in The Hague a specialist explains how the logo works and consumers give insight on if and how they use the logo.

Activities: research and set-up, planning, book cameraman, interviews and direction, accompany feed and translations.

21 September 2009

TF1 News

The Dutch jail system

Because of huge overpopulation and the rise of the number of suicides in French jails, a journalist from TF1 news comes to the Netherlands and to Belgium to see how the jails are looking and how they are managed. The situation in Dutch jails is very difference from France. Inmates have their own cell including toilet and television, most of the jails are new and well maintained. There are loads of activities and new experiments are preparing the inmates for their life after jail. Many inmates do voluntary work like maintaining parks and some inmates learn crafts like plasterer and painter. Some of the inmates even already have a job when they are released out of their cell. Last but not least the Dutch jails do not suffer from heavy overpopulation like in France. The Dutch even have to close jails because there are too many empty cells. The Belgian state asked the Dutch if it is possible to stick some of the Belgian inmates into Dutch cells to fight overpopulation in Belgium.

Portrait Oswalt Kolle

For the summer season Swiss reportage program '10 vor 10' asks Europe correspondent Christoph Nufer to make a portrait of Oswalt Kolle. The German sex educator, who became famous in the 1960s for his books and films on human sexuality. Kolle has lived in Amsterdam since the 1970s and prefers to do the filming in the harbour of Volendam.

Red Light District documentary

On July 2 a large majority of the Amsterdam council voted in favor of the ‘Coalition 1012 plan’. The plan has to change the Amsterdam Red Light district into a 'safer, more beautiful and more livable area'. It involves the closure of around half of the prostitute windows and many of the coffee shops. For the Dutch documentary program NCRV Document director/cameraman Frans Bromet follows and interviews a variety of protagonists living and working in the district to see how the new city hall plans take form and how the new policy will influence their lives.

Dutch health care system

In Switzerland it becomes clear that the way the health care system is organised needs serious change. The system does not have the incentives to save money. Reto Gerber from the Economical program Eco, comes to the Netherlands to see how the Dutch organised the health care. In the reportage 'Gesundheitssystem: Vorbild Holland' Reto meets a member of the Dutch Health Care Insurance Board, a family doctor and a retired Swiss surgeon living in Amsterdam. Reto finishes his research in the Orbis medical center, a huge new hospital where all innovations possible are implemented. The hospital looks like a hotel, is almost totally paper free and Swiss robot cars move around medicines and food. Every patient has its own room where a family member can sleep as well. Everything in the room can be operated from a touch screen. All the non medical services are done by differently dressed 'hotel' personnel and the doctors, surgeons and nurses work together in a huge open office. view video (sf.tv./eco)

The bike revolution

The Canadian documentary production company Cogent Benger produces a documentary about the revolution in biking in North America. Lately more and more people use bikes and the infrastructure of cities is changing in favor of the biker. Producer Christoph Sumpton comes to Amsterdam to find out how the bike is integrated in daily life.

Europe Elections Tour

Preceding the European elections the first German TV channel ARD makes a tour through the neighboring countries to measure the European political temperature. The tour ends in Amsterdam. The evening program Tagesthemen broadcasts live from the centre of Amsterdam. Historian, writer and documentary maker Geert Mak explains why the Dutch became so anti-Europe and inward looking.

Europe Elections Tour

Preceding the european elections the first German TV channel ARD makes a tour through it neighboring countries to measure the European political temperature. The tour ends in Amsterdam. The morning program Morgenmagazin broadcasts live from the Amstel river in the centre of Amsterdam. A German/Dutch family living on a house boat is portrayed.

Activities: organise licenses and parking for SNG and lights van, rental boat, book camera crew and direction of portraits mother and the father of the family, find and organise cable assistants, accompany research day and live transmissions.

19 May 2009

SF 10 vor 10

Crisis in Rotterdam harbour

Another whole generation is in danger of being lost in Rotterdam. Has the city become a ticking time bomb? The city is largely dependent on its port and the collapse of world trade in the wake of the economic crisis is taking a heavy toll on the port. As a result, Rotterdam will be harder hit than the Dutch economy as a whole, is the inauspicious message from mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb. Correspondent Christoph Nufer meets a unemployed harbor worker and gets a tour through the Rotterdam harbor to see where the crisis takes its toll.

Demjanjuk arrest

German prosecutors claim that John Demjanjuk served as a Nazi guard at the Sobibor death camp in present-day Poland between March and late September 1943. In the current attempt to bring him to justice, Munich prosecutors applied for the warrant based on a document from Bavarian criminal investigators that testified to the authenticity of the SS identity card provided by US officials. Demjanjuk is moved to Munich to await his trial. For a background reportage Mona Lisa needs an interview with a relative of one of the many Dutch families that where killed in Sobibor.

Activities: organise interview, book crew, direction and interview, organise material to be flown to Munich.

30 April 2009

ARD Brisant Tagesschau

The Queens day 2009 attack

This year the city Apeldoorn is chosen by Queen Beatrix to visit during the celebration of the Dutch traditional Queens Day. The Queen and her family arrive at the Oranje park and walk around to see all the hobbies, sports, culture and crafts presented by the municipality and especially the inhabitants. The tour ends with a bus ride that meets a parade of historical cars and figures that visualise the life of Juliana, the mother of Beatrix, since it is exactly 100 years ago that she was born. Spectators express their love for the Queen. The cheerful and sunny day turns into a nightmare when it becomes clear that a maniac drove into the public with his car, killing himself en six bystanders and leaving many heavily injured. The car crashes into the monument called 'De Naald', a gift from the people of Apeldoorn to Queen Wilhelmina (mother of Juliana) in 1901. The festivities are cancelled immediately and most of the public leaves Apeldoorn. Some stay behind. Tearing down their stands or sitting around quietly with glassy looks. The theme of the story changes around from celebration to bewilderment.

Queens Day morning

The morning program from the first German channel reports live from Apeldoorn, the city that Queen Beatrix and her family will visit later in the day to celebrate Queens Day. The gate of the palace Het Loo is still closed and only four old women from the religious town of Staphorst, dressed in traditional costume, are already present to see the Queen. Historian and royalty specialist Reinildis van Ditshuyzen answers questions. Mainly about the possible resignation of the Queen.

King Gustaf visit

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden visit the Netherlands for a three day state visit. They began their visit, as they were greeted by Queen Beatrix and were given a welcoming ceremony at the Hague. During the three days, the Swedish King and the Dutch Queen discussed ways to strengthen ties between their two kingdoms, both politically and economically. The royal couple from Sweden also visits business seminars, exhibitions and a children’s rights meeting.

Red Light District documentary

It turns out that most of the window brothels, coffee shops, tourist- and fast food shops in the Amsterdam red light district will have to close. Final decisions are already planned to be taken by the council in June this year. Director and cameraman Frans Bromet follows two window renters and other key figures to document how the new city hall plans take form and how the new policy will influence the lives and work of the protagonists.

Problems construction Amsterdam metro line

After the collapse of the city archive in Cologne caused by the construction of the North/South metro line, Europamagzin meets a specialised engineer and two former inhabitants of some historical buildings that sank because the newly constructed walls of a station for the future Amsterdam North/South metro line started leaking. The inhabitants had to leave their houses immediately, now living and working on alternative locations while their houses are supported with wooden beams so they do not fall apart. Whereas the drilling of the tunnel still has to start most of the building activities had to be halted. A special commission is researching what to do next.

Activities: research, set-up and planning.

29 March 2009

ARD Morgenmagazin

The Europe economy

In a special week of economical programs on different European locations, ARD Morgenmagazin is also broadcasting from the Holland Flora flower auction in the Netherlands. Because the anchor people will comment from different locations, cable assistants are needed to relocate the camera cables.

Activities: find & organise cable assistants.

21 March 2009

BBC Scotland

The human cell

The Scottish BBC is producing a documentary on the human cell. A part of the filming is done on the Dutch University of Delft. For a historical flash back in the film an old wooden rowing boats is needed.

Activities: Find and organise rowing boat, organise transport.

14 March 2009

ARD Tagesthemen

The construction of the Amsterdam metro line

After the city archives of Cologne collapsed because a mistake was made in the construction of the North-South metro line, ARD Tagesthemen plans a reportage about the problems with the construction of a Amsterdam metro line with exactly the same name. In Amsterdam only the metro stations are constructed, but already the inhabitants of a few historical houses on the Vijzelgracht had to leave their homes, because the houses were sinking. The houses are supported so they do not fall apart, but the tunnels still have to be drilled. What are the dangers during the metro construction in Amsterdam?

Activities: research, book camera crew, set-up.

8 March 2009

BBC Scotland

From field to plate

We import 40% of what we eat. If supplies were to be suddenly cut off, we’d run out of fresh imported food in just two days. So how does it all get to our supermarket shelves – at the precise moment it’s ready to eat? In a 60 minutes documentary Jimmy Doherty is going to discover how the food industry overcomes the enormous challenges of processing, packaging, transporting, storing, and distributing – how our food gets from the world’s fields to our plates. On his journey he’s going to find out how technology, science, and a vast army of people all over the world make a hugely complex operation go like clockwork to ensure an uninterrupted supply. What he witnesses will fill his journey with surprises and confound assumptions. As a farmer, his approach to producing food emphasises “ local is best”. But the realities of how food travels around the world will force him to re-think some of his own beliefs. His travel plans include Egypt, Costa Rica, Kenya, and the Netherlands.

Activities: organise 'grape picker' for filming greenhouses in the Netherlands.

25 February 2009

ABC News

Turkish airplane crash Schiphol

After a Turkish airliner crashed near the Amsterdam airport Schiphol, ABC News needs up to date information, reports, data and advice.

Activities: provide up to date data and information, life interview, advise on side stories.

The storm - the movie

In autumn The Storm, a film about the severe Dutch floods in 1953, will come out. On the first of February it is 55 years ago that the disaster took place. Swiss TV news reports about the commemoration day and on the making of The Storm, including an interview with the director.

Dutch skating fever

After eleven years the Dutch have a few days of real cold winter weather. Immediately the Dutch put on their skates to experience a skating ride on the rare natural ice. Within in a few days the skating fever is spreading like wildfire, resulting in picturesque images of frozen canals, lakes and ponds full of skating people.

New strict policy for Amsterdam red light district

It turns out that most of the window brothels, coffee shops, tourist- and fast food shops in the Amsterdam red light district will have to close. Final decisions are already planned to be taken by the council in June this year. The employers' lobby organisation is not amused: ‘The arrogant administration is shoving the new policy down our throats, destroying the traditional Amsterdam red light district culture.’ In the 10 minute reportage with the titel 'Rotlight Aus', the chairman of the lobby organisation gives a tour through the area, interviews with the Amsterdam mayor, a coffee shop owner, window renter, a prostitute and some locals give their views. view video (sf.tv./rundschau)

Dutch soft drugs policy

In Japan students of well known universities are arrested because they were growing cannabis plants. While in the Netherlands a cannabis summit is organised and suddenly many coffee shops are threatened with closure, NHK EU correspondent Go Kamosiha comes to Amsterdam to investigate the Dutch soft drugs policy in practice. He meets an official that explains the policy, an opponent MP, a Dutch seed producer and exporter, the manager of a cannabis information center and the assistant manager of a school in the center of Amsterdam. Last but not least he meets and interviews the chairman of the union of Dutch coffee shop owners in his own Amsterdam coffee shop.

The window cleaner mafia

Traditionally the Swiss consumer program Kassensturz broadcasts a compilation of international consumer reportages at the end of the year. In the 2008 program a Dutch reportage about the violent way Dutch window cleaners are defending their territories will be shown.

Dutch soft drugs policy

After Bergen op Zoom en Roosendaal, two Dutch cities along the border with Belgium, indicated to close all coffee shops within two years, a special cannabis summit is organised. The mayors of cities with coffee shops meet to discuss the problems with drugs tourism and with handling the complicated practice of the Dutch soft drugs policy. ARD Weltspiegel checks out the situation in Bergen op Zoom and Maastricht. Mayors and a coffee shop owner explain the way they see the future of the Dutch soft drugs policy.

Activities: research, set-up and planning, accompany filming.

7 November 2008

BBC Scotland Eorpa

The Dutch water protection test

The Dutch Taskforce Management Floods organises the 'Water Test', a national floods simulation exercise. The participants of the 'Water Test' are administrators, national-, regional- and local emergency services and the water board districts On the basis of the worst imaginable floods the involved departments and services will practice the operational preparation and handling of simulated floods. The 'water test' is mainly a simulation exercise with a few visible elements like the bursting of a dike, evacuation, the reinforcement of dunes and a multidisciplinary rescue operation. A reportage about the latest Dutch plans to fight the rising sea water and increasing amounts of river water ending up in the Netherlands. A full coverage of one of the flood disaster simulations, a research into the future plans to protect the Netherlands from possible floods and a portrait of a man that experienced the Dutch floods in 1953.

Dutch flood test

The Dutch Taskforce Management Floods organises the 'Water Test', a national floods simulation exercise. The participants of the 'Water Test' are administrators, national-, regional- and local emergency services and the water board districts. On the basis of the worst imaginable floods the involved departments and services will practice the operational preparation and handling of simulated floods. The 'water test' is mainly a simulation exercise with a few visible elements like the bursting of a dike, evacuation, the reinforcement of dunes and a multidisciplinary rescue operation.

Activities: research.

4 November 2008

ARD Weltspiegel

Industrial shell fishery in Mauretania

Halfway 2008 Greenpeace published a report on the industrial shellfish fishery along the coast of Mauretania. The conclusions are that both nature and the local economy are damaged severely. Greenpeace warns that the new plans of a Dutch shell fish fishery company will be even more devastating.

Activities: research & set-up.

22 October 2008

ARD Tagesthemen

The success of migrant student

Dutch researcher Maurice Crul from the University of Amsterdam visits the Metropolis conference in Bonn. A conference about integration in the European Union. Crul presents his research that concluds that, compared to the Netherlands, Belgium and especially France, migrant students in Germany stay behind in education. In the German most of the migrant pupils do not manage to enter higher education. In the Netherlands the InHolland University educates many migrant students. Through the mentor project young migrant students are linked with older students for extra guidance and help. Most of the students find a job after they finished their education. A successful Dutch Moroccan girl explains how she did it. She works at the external communication department of a large company. Because of her success and mentorship at the Inholland University, she got a the yearly student price from the Dutch Minister of Education. Entering school at a young age, choosing the final education at a late age and extra attention, turn out to be the reasons behind the success of migrant students in The Netherlands.

Old people's home for gays

Although homosexuality is very accepted in the Netherlands, and Amsterdam is often seen as the Gay-capital of Europe, it is still a taboo in old people's homes. Elderly homosexuals fear the moment they become in need of care. The L.A. Rieshuis in Amsterdam is the first retirement home for gays and lesbians in the world. Portraits of two residents.

Activities: research, set-up, planning and accompaniment filming.

30 September 2008

SF 10 for 10

The eco disco

Watt, the first ecological discotheque in the World opens its doors this week in Rotterdam. Three Rotterdam night club entrepreneurs want to give more attention to sustainability in the Dutch night life. There is a dance floor that generates energy that is used to light the floor. At the ‘zero waste’ bars recycling is the key word and the toilets are flushed with rainwater. All the ecological measures and techniques will save 30% electricity and even 50% of water, waste and paper.

Activities: research, set-up and planning.

23 September 2008

SF 10 vor 10

Free school choice

In Switzerland parents receive a letter that tells them where their child will go to school. In the Netherlands parents are free to decide to which school their child will go to. Sometimes this leads to schools with a majority of native or migrant pupils. Schools can decide to select by postcode, so local children get a preferential treatment. A Swiss mother decided to put her children on a school in another neighbourhood, because the local school had too many migrant pupils. In the end she doubts if the local school would not have been a better option.

Activities: research, set-up, planning, accompaniment filming.

16 September 2008

SF Eco

The future of navigation

The European market leader in navigation systems TOMTOM introduces a new traffic information system called HD traffic in Switzerland. TOMOTOM already introduced the service a year before in the Netherlands. By using different traffic data streams and a GSM connection, the navigation system offers accurate traffic jam information, calculates the delays and offers alternative less busy routes. Apart from the traditional national traffic information HD traffic makes use of the GSM signals of Vodafone users and from HD traffic users that that okayed their data to be used. After Nokia bought the map maker Navteq and TOMTOM bought mapmaker Teleatlas, the future will tell which company will dominate the navigation market.

Activities: research, set-up, planning accompaniment filming.

10 September 2008

ARD Europamagazin

Verdict Hasan Nuhanovic case

The Netherlands District Court in The Hague will deliver its verdict on whether the Dutch state and its contingent of United Nations peace-keeping troops can be held responsible for handing over Bosnian refugees who had looked to them for protection to be murdered by Serb soldiers. In July 1995 Bosnians who had sought refuge In the UN forces' base at Potocari were ordered by Dutch UN peacekeepers to leave the safety of the base and sent to face the prospect of certain death with Bosnian refugees already being killed and raped by Serb soldiers only a few meters outside the area under UN protection. The UN forces even denied protection to Bosnians who were known personally to them and to the family of their interpreter Hasan Nuhanovic.

Activities: research, set-up, book camera crew.

4 September 2008

ORF Tagesschau

Nicotine ban in coffee shops

Since the first of July smoking in cafes, restaurants and night clubs is banned in the Netherlands. Tobacco smoking is also forbidden in the famous Dutch coffee shops, while the tolerated cannabis and hash can be smoked pure without a problem. An Amsterdam coffee shop owner and some of his clients explain what they think of the new law.

Activities: research, set-up and accompanying filming.

15 August 2008

AD Europamagazin

Dutchbat interpreter accuses Dutch state

Hasan Nuhanovic, a former interpreter of the Dutch UN battalion in Srebrenica, is unstoppable in his determination to get at the truth. He is one of the few survivors of the Srebrenica massacre and never managed to save his mother, father and younger brother. In a Dutch court he accuses the Dutch State of not being able to prevent that his family and thousands of others were murdered in Europe's worst massacre since the second world war.

Activities: research, set-up, planning and accompanying filming.

22 July 2008

ARD Brisant

Fear factor Giel

Faktor Giel is a weekly reality based Dutch television show, in which host Giel Beelen experiences excruciating experiments. Giel checks out how long he can stay in a freezing chamber, how it is to be buried alive or to be tortured. How does one experience coma drinking, doping and poisonous insects? These are all questions that Giel Beelen finds answers for.

Activities: organise interview, research footage.

10 July 2008

ARD Tagesschau

Verdict Srebrenica court case

The verdict is given in the lawsuit started at a civilian court in The Hague by the group Mothers of Srebrenica. The group, which represents 6,000 relatives of the victims, says the UN and the Dutch state are in part responsible for the deaths of 8,000 Bosnian-Muslim men and boys in July 1995 since Srebrenica was a "safe area" under UN protection. The women were demanding that the court in The Hague recognise the failure of the UN to protect the men and boys, and that the victims' families receive compensation of 25,000 Euros.

Orange fans after Bern

Dutch football fans left an overwhelming impression in Bern during the European Football championships. After the orange invasion the Swiss want to know more about the Dutch football supporter culture. In a street in the north of Amsterdam - still dressed in orange - a local fanatic supporter explains how much he loves the Dutch team. The spokesman of the major Dutch football supporter organisation will definitely go back to Bern this summer. This time on vacation, with his family.

Activities: research, set-up and accompany filming.

18 June 2008

Spin Free Productions Discovery

Gridlock documentary

Canadian documentary film company Spin Free Productions Inc. produces 'Gridlock', a world-wide documentary on traffic jams for CTV and Discovery Channel. In the Netherlands the documentary explores what solutions the Dutch come up with to fight the extreme traffic problems.

Activities: research, set-up, hire & drive van, accompany filming.

15 June 2008

Telesearch

Japanese jump Dutch ditches

For a Japanese reportage on traditional Friesian ditch jumping in the Netherlands, production house Telesearch needs help to find a fixer, rental cars, drivers and a camera crew.

Activities: research & set-up.

10 June 2008

ARD Tagesschau

Srebrenica mothers sue Dutch state

Ten members of the group Mothers of Srebrenica ask a civilian court in The Hague to waive the UN's immunity from prosecution. The group, which represents 6,000 relatives of the victims, says the UN and the Dutch state are in part responsible for the deaths of 8,000 Bosnian-Muslim men and boys in July 1995 since Srebrenica was a "safe area" under UN protection. The women are demanding that the court in The Hague recognise the failure of the UN to protect the men and boys, and that the victims' families receive compensation of 25,000 Euros.

EU's unfair trade with Africa

When EU exports its food products to African countries for prices that a much lower than local prices, business becomes impossible for local farmers. To some this practice will lead to a lot of starvation in the world. WDR monitor reports on the effects of EU food exports on economies in Africa.

Activities: research and set-up.

1 June 2008

BBC Scotland

Assisted dying

Scottish TV is doing a story on assisted dying. For the filming in the Netherlands a lighting cameraman is needed.

Activities: organise camera person.

25 May 2008

ARD Weltspiegel

The global chicken

Most of the chicken runs from Kofi, a chicken farmer in Ghana, are empty. Around 90% of the chicken farmers already went bankrupt. The market in Ghana almost does not want the local chicken meat anymore. According to traders it is too expensive. Chicken meat from Europe is much, much cheaper. ARD Weltspiegel broadcasts a background reportage filmed in Ghana and in the Netherlands, one of the largest European chicken meat exporters. It turns out that a all parts of the chicken find their way into the world. Breasts to Europe, legs to eastern Europe, claws to Asia and the rest to Africa.

Activities: research, set-up and planning, accompanying filming.

20 May 2008

ORF Tagesschau

The micro chip disco

The Baja Beach Club, a night club in Rotterdam, offers its VIP clients the opportunity to have a injected microchip implanted in their upper arms. The chip does not only gives them special access to VIP lounges, but also acts as a debit account from which they can pay for drinks.

Activities: research, set-up and planning.

9 May 2008

WDR Monitor

Dutch health care insurance system

When German doctors threaten with Strikes for more salary, the WDR political program Monitor checks out how the Dutch organised their health insurance system.

Activities: research.

6 May 2008

SF 10 vor 10

Rosen aus Africa

On Mother's day Swiss TV brings a report about the Dutch flower branch. During the extensive coverage of one the massive flower auctions in the Netherlands, it turns out that apart from the Dutch flowers, the Mother's day bouquets exported to Switzerland contain flowers from all over the world. Especially from Africa, where the flower production is seriously expanding.

Activities: research, set-up and planning and accompanying filming.

30 April 2008

ARD Brisant

Queens Day

Every year, on April 30, the Dutch queen and her family visit a region of the Netherlands on to celebrate Queens day, the birthday of her mother, the late Princess Juliana. This year Beatrix visits two towns in the province of Friesland. ARD Brisant wants a report and some quotes from the spectators.

New book Carla del Ponte

After the publication of 'Me and War criminals, The Hunt', written by Carla Del Ponte, '10 vor 10' needs an interview with a Swiss judge working at the Tribunal for ex-Yugoslavia, about the mentioning of illegal transplantation of organs of Serbs prisoners from Kosovo. In her book Del Ponte reports the allegations made by several sources that KLA fighters, at a senior level, had authorised and profited from an organ-harvesting racket preying on Serbs transported from Kosovo. Some say that she got the information they provided through UN officials and "trusted journalists", but not from the sources themselves.

The smokers pension

Dutch pension fund Paerel Leven offers smokers lucrative interest payouts that can go up to 16% because of a lower life expectancy. A heavy smoker, already missing one long, the owner of Paerel Leven and a doctor explain what they think of the new formula.

Activities: research, set-up and planning of interviews.

6 April 2008

SF Tagesschau

Wilders film online

The controversial anti-Koran short film by anti-immigration Dutch MP Geert Wilders was finally released on the internet on Thursday evening the 27th of March. Most of the Dutch and foreign media report that the film is milder than expected and lacks surprises. No problems in the Netherlands or abroad have been reported following the long-awaited release of the controversial anti-Koran film by Dutch MP Geert Wilders, reports the National Crisis Centre on Friday morning. The Dutch anti-terrorism coordinator has not increased the country’s alarm level which remains on the second highest setting, says ANP news service. And a spokesman for the Dutch troops in Afghanistan told BNR Nieuwsradio that there have not been any reactions to the film in the region although security would be stepped up. On the political front, religious leaders and representatives from various ethnic minority organisations are due to meet the integration and justice ministers to discuss their reactions to the film. Nevertheless the public prosecution department is to consider whether Fitna breaks the law, said prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende in a reaction on Thursday night. In a live televised speech he said the cabinet regrets the showing of the short film, adding that its only aim is to upset people. Swiss correspondent Christoph Nufer meets a Liberal Dutch Muslim columnist and visits a mosque to find out what the visitors and a representative of the Turkish Muslim community think about the Wilders film.

21 Century mummy

Fulcrum Tv is making a program about mummification. An American man who is terminally ill and who will donate his body to science is exploring the technology behind nummification. His wife and family are accompanying him to Egypt to be part of the story about how we deal with death today and how it compares to ancient Egypt. During their trip to Egypt the main contributor to the story and his wife stay over in Amsterdam to have a rest and to break up the long flight from the US to Egypt.

Aquapol controls

Aquapol is an European partnership of ten countries for police work in inland waterway shipping, on the seas and in seaports, aimed at advancing safety and fighting crime in Europe. In 2008, Aquapol’s presidency was given to the Netherlands. One of the areas of attention for the Aquapol countries is Rotterdam’s port policy, because it is at the forefront of security and the fight against crime. Aquapol will double the number of joint operations in 2008. Twenty-five operations will be conducted at sea, on rivers and in the ports of the countries participating in Aquapol. These operations focus on smuggling, stolen vessels, illegal work and safety regulations. In an age of increasing imports from China and a shortage of qualitfied personnel the European harbour and river police has to be extra watchful. The Rotterdam harbour police takes press along to show inspections of inland cargo vessels transporting dangerous goods on a day simular Aquapol inspections take place all over Europe.

Activities: research and set-up & accompany filming, research and organise archive footage.

24 March 2008

BBC Sctoland Eorpa

Netherlands before the Wilders film launch

Since November 2007 it is known that an eccentric far right wing politician Geert Wilders has a plan for an anti-Koran film. The film with the name Fitna will probably be shown on the internet before 1 April. The Freedom Party (PVV) leader could not yet give an exact date. "As soon as everything is ready, I'll let you know," Wilders said. Wilders plans to release the movie attacking Islam and the Koran despite complaints from religious groups and warnings it could provoke violent protests around the world. He said in November that the 15-minute film would show the Koran was a "fascist book", a claim which has already drawn complaints from several Muslim countries including Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, Iran and Afghanistan. Dutch officials have unsuccessfully urged Geert Wilders to drop the project, fearing a repeat of the violent protests that erupted after European newspapers published cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammed. A tour along involved people and organisations: protesters handing out flyers for an anti-racism demonstration on a multiethnic market, young liberals that stand for the freedom of speech, the chairman of the Muslim board, a representative from a military union -stating on the possible effects on the Dutch mission in Afghanistan-, a young Muslim MP of the Green Left party and comments on the coming film from a variety of Dutch citizens.

The first Dutch Muslim mayor

After the local elections in 2006 Ahmed Marcouch became the first Muslim mayor of the Amsterdam district of Slotervaart. A Social Democrat, he is a man of action, resolutely pushing through tough measures – something that doesn't always win him friends. Most of Slotervaart's 45,000 inhabitants are immigrants, largely from Morocco. Slotervaart became well-known because several members of a supposed Islamist terror organization grew up there, as did Mohammed B., murderer of the Dutch film director Theo van Gogh. With his dynamic manner, firm handshake, his assertive look, and dark, scrutinizing eyes, there is no doubt that Marcouch is nobody's fool, as the young Moroccan criminals he used to deal with as a policeman soon discovered. Together with six other Muslim police officers he was given the task of re-establishing the contact with the Muslim population that his colleagues had completely lost. A portrait of Ahmed Marcouch and the Slotervaart district through the eye's of a Dutch Moroccan policeman and a rapper; and a biking course for migrant women.

Beatrix opens royal exhibition

Queen Beatrix saw her life reflected in the new exhibition ‘Amsterdam and the House of Orange’, she opened at the Amsterdam Historical Museum. For although the exhibit on two floors of the museum looks at the centuries of often testy relations between Amsterdam and the princely, later royal family, there is also a lot of personal history of Beatrix on display. The museum had wanted to host this exhibition for quite some time. For a while it was thought the investiture of Prince Willem-Alexander as King would provide a good opportunity, till the museum realised that this might still be a few years of. Organising the exposition also would require more time than under those circumstances would be allowed. Hence the decision to dedicate the present exhibition to Queen Beatrix' 70th birthday. While there is great affection for the Oranges in Amsterdam, the city also has its share of republican sympathisers. Sometimes the enthusiasm grows to a crescendo, as the intense riots during the investiture of Queen Wilhelmina in 1898; sometimes there is opposition, for example against the marriage of Princess Beatrix and Claus von Amsberg in 1966.

Activities: research, accompany filming, organise pool material.

27 February 2008

ARD Tagesthemen

Nazi era singer returns to stage

Johannes Heesters, a 104-year-old Dutch cabaret singer who once performed in Nazi Germany has given a concert in the Netherlands for the first time in four decades. It was Heesters' first performance in his homeland since the 1960s. There were protests and tight security around the theatre in Amersfoort where Johannes Heesters appeared. Although Heesters insists he never espoused Nazi politics, he performed for Adolf Hitler and visited the Dachau concentration camp. Correspondents say many Dutch people have never forgiven him. "He kept singing for the Nazi regime, for the Wehrmacht, and he earned millions," said Piet Schouten, representative of a committee formed to protest against Saturday's performance."We have a problem with that on behalf of all the victims," he told national broadcaster NOS. Johannes Heesters, born Johan, began his career in Amsterdam in the 1920s and moved to Germany in 1935, where he enjoyed a successful career. Heesters was never accused of being a Nazi propagandist, and the Allies allowed him to continue performing after the war. He was booed off the stage in Amsterdam when he previously tried to stage a comeback in the early 1960s. Since then he has performed in other countries, notably Germany and Austria.

Activities: research and set up filming.

21 February 2008

Al Jazeera

Reconsturction of Indonesian statues theft

Municipal Police will hold a reconstruction of five stolen statues of the Radya Pustaka Museum collection in the Indonesian town Solo, today. In their testimony, the suspects said the hundreds of year-old statues were taken from the museum in three stages. In July 2006, two statues, Ciwa and Durga Mahasasuramadini were taken first. The robberies continued in September 2006 with the Agatsya and in November 2006, the eight-handed Durga Mahesasura Madini and Mahakala. In addition to holding the statue theft reconstruction, it is planned that today the Solo Police investigators will also ask for statements from three witnesses. One of them is businessperson Heru Suryanto, the last buyer of the five statues. However, it is a big possibility that HS will not be able to fulfill the police summons as he is still in London, England. Hugo E. Kreijger, the key witness in the statue theft in the Radya Pustaka Museum, said that the transaction receipt of the historic statue was original. “I swear, the sales receipt is original. I’m accustomed to seeing the antique goods’ original sales transaction receipt. Kreijger, former Director for Asia-Pacific of Christie’s Amsterdam, an antique and historic goods auction body, said that between last March and April, he in fact met with Heru Suryanto—an antique goods seller who has already been declared suspect by the police.

The final hours of Natalee Holloway

ABC reporter Chris Cuomo and two colleagues on Aruba reconstruct the last hours of Natallee Holloway, the American girl that disappeared on Aruba in 2005, using the secretly taped admissions from main Dutch suspect Joran van der S. in a Dutch crime program. Chris Cuomo reports live form the centre of Amsterdam.

Wilders film

At the end of last year the Dutch conservative politician Geert Wilders announced that he will produce a critical film about the Koran. The Dutch society and politics fear the consequences of a film that is not finished. Swiss correspondent Christoph Nufer interviews Wilders to find out what he wants to say with the film.

Integration in west of Amsterdam

After an inhabitant of Slotervaart killed Dutch movie maker Theo van Gogh in 2004 the neighbourhood got a lot of bad press. Over the last months a few cars burned out and a stabbing took place. The new district mayor Ahmed Marcouch is born in Morocco and served at the Amsterdam police for many years. He became a symbol of a new age for Slotervaart. The troublemakers need to be dealt with, police coordinators and street coaches roam the streets and families get help with the education of their children. How is integration doing in Slotervaart?

Activities: research & set-up.

8 January 2008

ORF Weltjournal

Dutch churches, reuse or demolition?

In the Dutch year of the religious heritage a new foundation devoted itself to save churches from demolition. In the upcoming 5 years around 1200 Dutch churches will go out of use because of the secularisation. Many of these churches have to be demolished to pay for the renovations of other churches or because the diocese does not allow another use for the house of God. Former churchgoers, local residents and art historians fight for the preservation of the Dutch religious heritage.

Activities: research, accompany filming, interviews and translations.

22 December 2007

PBS / Kontentreal

Reuse in architecture

2012 Architects views re-use as an integrated design strategy. Working under the name Superuse Architects 2012 is busy creating a knowledge database for the simpler and more efficient use of re-use in the construction industry. However, ecological considerations are not the prime motivation. Equally important, in their view, is the creative inspiration they draw from the potentialities of recovered objects. The qualities that are inherent in used products and materials offer potential added-value when incorporated in new products and compositions: the ready-made principle of art applied to architecture. For 2012 the re-use concept applies as well to the material world as to energy, human resources and water. Ultimately leading to very contemporary design integrating all of these aspects. The PBS documentary series Design e2 has a close look at the idea's and creations of the three leading architects of 2012 Architects.

Status of the Dutch multicultural society

Since a while the status of the multicultural society is under discussion in Germany. A German documentary maker comes to the Netherlands for research and the set-up of filming for a documentary about the status of the multi-culti society in The Netherlands. Since the rise and fall of the Dutch populist politician Pim Fortuyn the multicultural has been subject of discussion.

Activities: research & advise, organise meetings with a sociologist and columnist.

24 November 2007

SF Tagesschau

Dying paradise Switzerland

Since helping to die is legal in Switzerland a lot of foreigners travel to Switzerland to be helped to die. The neighbors of the locations where the dying takes place protest against the constant stream of corpses taken out in coffins. The organisations that help people to die have to move location constantly and are often forced to hire a camper and assist the suicide along a road or deep in a forest. In The Netherlands euthanasia is legalised, but it is has to be carried out by a doctor and through a set of rules and regulation it is only possible for Dutch inhabitants. The foreigners that contact the Dutch association of voluntary euthanasia are advised to go to Switzerland.

Activities: research and set up, book cameraman, direction and interview, accompany satellite feed.

20 November 2007

ARD Tagesthemen

The Anne Frank tree trial

The council of the Amsterdam Centre district declared that the tree behind the Anne Frank house, had to be cut down on November 20, 2007 due to the risk that it could otherwise fall down. But on November 21, 2007 a judge issued a temporary injunction stopping the removal. Second opinion analysis by the Dutch Tree Foundation has shown that there exists no acute danger of collapse. The Dutch Tree foundation and some of the neighbours start a lawsuit against the Amsterdam centre district and the owner of the ground to save the tree. The judge even decides to check out the tree himself, causing a lot of consternation by the press in the gardens behind the Anne Frank house.

The Anne Frank tree

The Anne Frank tree is the horse-chestnut tree in the city center of Amsterdam that was featured in Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl. Anne Frank described the tree from the annex, the building where she and her family were hiding for the Nazis during the Second World War. The tree is estimated between 150 and 170 years old, and for the past several years it has been battling both a fungus and a moth infestation. The council of the Amsterdam centre district declared that the tree had to be cut down on November 20, 2007 due to the risk that it could otherwise fall down.

Gay mariage and adoption

In Austria the legalisation of gay marriage is discussed. Correspondent Sonja Sagmeister visits the Netherlands to see how the Dutch gay marriage is doing. She finds out that Dutch married gays even can adopt children.

Activities: research and set-up filming, accompanying filming.

9 November 2007

SF Tagesschau

Storm alarm

For the first time in 40 years the Dutch, English and Germans expect a heavy storm and high tide. The complete Dutch coast is monitored by dyke inspectors. The dams of the Dutch Delta coast protection system called the Delta Works are closed. For the futuristic Maeslandt dam that can close off the entrance of the Rotterdam harbor, this is the first time since it was constructed. Although some English streets are flooded, the storm and high tide turn out to be pretty harmless. Extensive video footage of the Dutch cost protection system is needed for background reportage.

Activities: story advise, footage advise.

8 November 2007

ARD Tagesschau

Dismantling child offenders network

Europol arranges a press conference in The Hague to announce the dismantling of a worldwide child sex offender’s network. The case, named ‘Operation Koala’, began in 2006 when a child abuse video was discovered in Australia. This particular video had been produced in Belgium. A Belgian perpetrator and two victims were identified. Consequently, the sole producer of the material, a 42-year-old Italian national, was arrested. He was running a website on which he sold over 150 self-made, sexually explicit videos of underage girls. This business had been running for a year and a half, generating considerable profits from around 2500 customers worldwide. The information from Australia was routed via Interpol to Belgium and Europol. The keys to the success of this operation are the provision of valuable data by Member States and Interpol and crime analysis for more than a year carried out by specialists in dealing with online child sex abuse cases at Europol and the judicial co-ordination carried out by Eurojust.

Toxic Toys

More than 20 million toys made in China have been recalled worldwide over the past four months because of potentially dangerous levels of lead or choking hazards due to small magnets. Some of these toys were manufactured using paints from unauthorized suppliers, to which the paints had toxic levels of lead. Swiss correspondent Christoph Nufer checks out how the shipments of containers filled with toys for the rest of Europe are controlled in the Rotterdam harbor. The Dutch food and product safety Authority (VWA) and the Dutch customs make risk analyses to decide which container needs to be inspected. Often the inspection happens at importers inside the country, to prevent the constant flow of containers in the harbor is frustrated. Papers and toys are checked and samples are taken and tested in the VWA labs.

Activities: research and set up, plan filming; direction and interview.

24 October 2007

ARD Monitor

Arrest PKK trainees

For a reportage about the German links to the PKK, ARD Monitor needs images from the arrest of a group of PKK trainees in the Netherlands in 2004.

No Dutch referendum on new EU treaty

Just before the new EU treaty is signed, the Japanese NHK correspondent checks out why the Dutch government decided to skip a second referendum. The opposition is busy to organise support for a new referendum, while the Minister of European Affairs explains that for this treaty a referendum is not obliged and not necessary. In a The Hague shopping street the reactions differ. Some regret the lack of a second possibility to speak out, others support the European cause totally. It seems the Dutch managed to sail around a sensitive issue, although the opposition still gathers signatures to organise a new referendum.

Dutch general pardon

Because a girl refugee threatens to kill herself after her family is send back to Kosovo, ORF correspondent Sonja Sagmeister reports on the actual situation in The Netherlands, where a general amnesty for asylum seekers is given. An Angolan couple with a young baby enjoys the new Dutch status in a refuge centre in Eindhoven, while a young man from the same country is finally forced to re-emigrate. His little brother got a Dutch permit of stay, their parents are both dead.

Find Dutch paraglider

The US TV company NASH Entertainment produces a show called ‘World’s Most Daring Rescues caught on tape.’ One of the clips they want to use concerns a Dutch paraglider who was rescued during an accident in New Zealand in 2001. Bergsma: 'I got stuck in high-voltage cables. The TV crews arrived on the scene in a few minutes, sadly enough it took the rescue team an hour to arrive.

Activities: find Dutch paraglider.

26 September 2007

Deutsche Welle

Portrait Ahmed Marcouch

Since the last Dutch local elections the Amsterdam neighborhood Slotervaart has Ahmed Marcouch, a Dutch Moroccan mayor. A social democrat, ex-policeman and an outspoken man. The mayor wants to fight prejudices and so-called radicalization and fight for a good future for the citizens of his district.

Activities: research and set-up.

24 September 2007

SF 10 vor 10

Dutch committee of ex-Muslims

It seems to be a trend, the establishments of ex-Muslim committees in Europe. With the German and English founders of these kinds of committees, the Dutch student Ashan Jami erects a Dutch committee of ex-Muslims in The Hague. EU correspondent Christoph Nufer visits the press conference, has a personal interview with Ashan Jami and checks out what the Dutch think about it.

Happy shrimps

Over the last years the cultivation of fish on land is seriously increasing. One of the most striking projects is ‘Happy Shrimps’, the breeding of large exotic shrimps in the Rotterdam harbour by using the surplus heat of a power plant. The next step is cultivation of glasswort, using the same aquarium and the excrements of the shrimp as fertilizer and buying a tropical island which will be totally forbidden for humans.

Make Dutch nature wild again

An epic landscape experiment is underway in the Netherlands. Its aim is to make Holland, the most developed of all European countries, wild again. Its method is to establish a vast network of natural habitats and wildlife corridors. Frans Vera, one of the ecologists driving the project, imagines it as a 'green circulation system' that will allow the freer movement of non-human species around North West Europe. Plans for the project show a mesh of green arteries, veins and capillaries, covering much of Holland and infiltrating Germany and Belgium. A conflict occurs when the wild animals die in winter caused by over population. Since the general public does not want to see deer, horses and reintroduced primeval bulls die of hunger, it is decided to kill the animals that are sick. How wild can a natural reserve run in a developed world ?

Activities: research, set up, accompanying filming & interviews.

12 September 2007

BBC Scotland / Eorpa

The new Dutch naturalisation law

After the implementation of the new Dutch naturalisation law around 250 thousand migrants, who often already live in The Netherlands for years, are obliged to do a naturalisation course and exams. The costs for the course and the exams have to be partly paid by the migrants themselves. The new law caused a lot of commotion. Eventually the Dutch government wanted to oblige all 800.000 migrants that come from outside of Europe to do the course. This was forbidden by the Dutch Council of State, since it is impossible to oblige naturalised Dutch people to do the exams. The new law obliges migrants to learn Dutch, to improve the knowledge of the Dutch society and learning to read and especially talk are the main activities. Most of the Dutch municipalities have outsourced the activities. The naturalisation course and exams need to be finished in five years. If people do not manage to pass the exams in time they will be fined. A varied migrant group gets a cultural language tour through the Amsterdam historical museum. Some so-called old comers from Turkey that already live in The Netherlands for many years complain, and the duo-project – one on one meetings between Dutch volunteers and migrants - is portrayed.

Dentist for homeless

Five years ago the city of The Hague started with a special dentist visiting hour for homeless people. The formula turns out to be a huge success. Getting rid of the homeless cliché, namely bad teeth, helps homeless to take the next steps to a steady live. After having a good set of teeth again, many homeless soon find a job, a home and even a girlfriend.

Activities: propose reportage idea, research and set-up.

8 September 2007

ABC Nightline

The Wesam Delaema case

In 2003 Dutch Iraqi Wesam Delaema visits his mother country Iraq after the US and UK invaded. He marries his wife in Bagdad and wants to finally see his family again. To show his friends in The Netherlands the other side of Iraq, he decides to film everything during his trip. When he films in his birth town Faluja, he ends up filming local masked fighters with the infra red function on his camera. In sinister green light the fighters show Wesam where they placed what seems to be a road bomb. After Wesam arrived back in The Netherlands he is suspected of being involved in the Berg case. It turns out that Wesam has nothing to do with it, but the Dutch keep on following him, and even arrest him, just after his wife arrived from Iraq. In this period the video tapes are found in his house. He is jailed and even extradited to the US. In January the Wesam trial will start in Washington. Since Wesam Delaema arrived in The Netherlands he created a large network of friends. These friends cannot believe that Wesma did something wrong, and do everything they can to proof his innocence and help his wife and brother.

Activities: research and set-up, archive footage research.

22 August 2007

Kontentreal / PBS

Modern Dutch architecture

Final activities for the purchase and sending of old farchive film footage and photos of the Amsterdam harbor.

Activities: Organise copyrights film and high res photo material.

12 August 2007

BBC

The veil

The veil is a series of documentaries looking at women and fashion across the Muslim world. Besides filming in countries like Yemen, Dubai, Egypt and the UK, the crew also visits The Netherlands. The series has a strong fashion and cultural angle, but for example also looks at the music scene in the Netherlands. The Veil is about debunking myths and challenging stereo types, hoping that the series will introduce the BBC audience to Muslim women who wear the veil, but are as individual in personality and character. It is this individuality that will make audiences stand up and take note of the woman beneath the veil.

Activities: research and advise.

6 August 2007

ARD Monitor

The Bayer CO2 pipeline

The German chemical company Bayer is laying a pipe line for CO2 in Germany. CO2 is used for the fabrication of plastics and is highly toxic. The pipeline often passes by at a few meters of houses. How unsafe is the transport of CO2? ARD Monitor wants to find out how the Dutch placed and manage a CO2 pipeline from the Rotterdam to the Antwerp harbor. The CO2 pipeline is placed in a special underground -100 meters wide- pipeline street together with many other pipelines and cables. The director of the Dutch pipe line street explains why the Dutch created this pipeline street and how save the transport of CO2 is. Besides the Dutch CO2 pipeline there is practically no housing.

The new European constitution?

After the Dutch and the French said no to the new European Constitution in a referendum, the text is rewritten and it remains to be seen how the Dutch will react on the new text. For the rest it is unclear if a second referendum will be organized. Schweizer Fernsehen travels to the city Oss to find out what the opposition party SP (Socialist Party) has to say about the new treaty. Oss is the birthplace of the SP leader Marijnissen.

Activities: advise, research and set-up.

18 June 2007

SF Tagesschau

Opening of the 'Betuwe' cargo railway line

The ‘Betuwe Line’, the new cargo railway line from the harbour of Rotterdam to Germany, is opened by the Queen Beatrix on the 16th of June 2007. It seems that companies finally become interested. Different transporters have requested to use the new track from now on. Around ten years ago Dutch politics decided to build the line to bring back the huge amount of truck driving from Rotterdam into Europe and to unburden the towns that are located near to the old cargo train lines. It is the question if the formula will work, and if the public will accept the extremely high costs of 4,7 billion euro for the reduction of pollution. In 1992 the total costs for the cargo line were estimated at 2,3 billion, which makes the project 2.1 billion euro more expensive than anticipated. Specialists doubt if the line will ever be profitable and activists chain themselves to the just opened cargo line, mourning over the loss of nature.

History of Christianity

Together with professor MacCulloch of the University of Oxford, BBC4 is making a documentary on the history of Christianity. For this the Portuegese Synagogue in Amsterdam and one of the oldest and largest Jewish cemeteries in Europe are visited.

Activities: research & set-up, hire and drive van, hire water taxi, accompany filming, advise on locations for general views.

5 June 2007

JWP / BBC

Madrid Bombings

Spain based Justin Webster productions is creating a documentary for the BBC on the Madrid bombings. One of the suspects of the bombings lived in Amsterdam for a while. Since the apartment block where the suspect lived is about to be demolished, the street, building, apartment and former mosque have to be filmed quickly.

Activities: providing DV-equipment & filming.

1 June 2007

ARD / SF / ABC

The donor show final

The Dutch public TV station BNN says it will go ahead with a programme in which a terminally ill woman selects one of three patients to receive her kidneys. Political parties have called for The Big Donor Show to be scrapped, but broadcaster BNN says it will highlight the country's shortage of organ donors. The 37-year-old donor, identified only as Lisa, will make her choice based on the contestants' history, profile and conversation with their family and friends. Viewers will also be able to send in their advice by text message during the 80-minute show. The Donor show comes from Big Brother creators Endemol and before it is broadcasted it creates an international outcry and a serious media hype. At the end of the show it turns out that Lisa is an actress and that the show is a hoax. After the huge consternation at the press conference, both the producer and the broadcasters are extremely happy that they managed to get attention for the so sensitive issue of organ donation in The Netherlands and beyond. The news footage is also used by ARD Tagesshau, Tages Themen and Europamagazin.

The donor show

The Dutch TV station BNN says it will go ahead with a programme in which a terminally ill woman selects one of three patients to receive her kidneys. On the day the Donor Show will be broadcasted ARD needs a journalist in the Aalsmeer Van der Ende studio during the transmission of the show and the press conference.

Activities: report on press conference.

27 April 2007

RTE Prime Time

The donor show

The Dutch TV station BNN says it will go ahead with a programme in which a terminally ill woman selects one of three patients to receive her kidneys. For the RTE program Prime Time a Dutch interview partner has to be casted and organised for a live interview on the Donor Show consternation.

Activities: research and organise interviewee and interview- and feed location for live interview from Amsterdam.

21 April 2007

SF 10 vor 10

Gaming addiction treatment

The Smith & Jones mission is to provide multiple treatment options for anyone in Holland and abroad suffering from addictions or compulsive behaviours. The mission of the foundation is to educate young people about addictions and to equip them to attack the addiction if it appears. The Smith& Jones GAMESTERDAM clinic is the first residential treatment facility in the world that is specialised in and focused on treating people whose lives have become unmanageable as a result of their on- or offline video gaming behaviour.

Activities: research & set-up and accompany filming.

16 April 2007

SF 10 vor 10

The Dutch social housing system

Swiss EU-correspondent Christoph Nufer visits The Netherlands to investigate how the Dutch organised its housing market. Two thirds of the apartments in Amsterdam are rented through a special social housing system that keeps prices low for people with small budgets. The idea behind the policy is that Amsterdam keeps its mixed population. Sadly enough most of the apartments are relatively small and vacancies do not appear often. This forces young families to move to a larger house outside the city. Since many of these family members still work in town, this causes a serious increase of traffic jam kilometers. Also the housing policy from the sixties and seventies to stimulate suburbanisation to centres of growth further away from the bigger cities in the West, plays a large role in the terrifying increase of traffic jams. All new housing projects in the West now factor in larger apartments and a large percentage of market rate housing to keep the families in the west.

Activities: research & set-up, find examples of social housing and of suburbanised families.

6 April 2007

PBS / Kontentreal

The Economies of Being Environmentally conscious

The New York based documentary production company Kontentreal produces a series of documentaries called Design E2. Design E2 boradcasted on the US public TV channel PBS. The Economies of Being Environmentally conscious is an original HD multipart series that explores the living vitality of the environment. Eight different topics - from sustainable architecture to water culture to alternative energy to organic farming, recycled clothing and more - are each presented in six thirty-minute episoded, challenging us to live smarter, live greener and live with the future in mind. Design E2 is narrated by Brad Pitt. This six-part series is produced by Kontenreal and releases nationwide on PBS in autumn 2007. The Design E2 visits the Netherlands for an episode on sustainable architecture and solving suburban sprawl. In the Amsterdam docklands two neighbourhoods called Borneo and Sporenburg are taken as examples. Drawing upon Dutch architectural heritage, West 8's plan for Borneo Sporenburg was inspired by villages on the former Zuiderzee, where small, intimate houses descend towards the water. More than 100 architects participated; developing new housing prototypes and the resulting designs include patios, roof gardens and striking views of the waterfront. The Borneo Sporenburg approach is especially interesting for very dense luxurious housing near to the city centre. An important alternative for the classical and so widely spread American suburbia concept. Video Link!

Company film Accenture

For a company film for the international consultancy company Accenture, Eurocam needs a teleprompter machine (auto cue).

Activities: organise teleprompter and personnel.

16 February 2007

SF 10 vor 10

Innovation in Dutch road use

Swiss Europe correspondent Christoph Nufer comes to the Netherlands to report on the way the Dutch try to manage the road use on local and national scale. Since a few years a small town in Friesland tests the 'shared space' concept: signs and the borders that separate road users are removed, which makes them much more conscious of each other. The result is a huge decrease in accidents and a much better traffic flow. At the same time the Dutch try to fight the huge increase of traffic jam kilometres of around 10% a year. Apart from the fact that there is not much space left for extra asphalt, the construction of new lanes will take far too long to be a real solution to the actual problems. Innovation in the use of the road and again raising the consciousness of the drivers will be the only alternative. New systems like 'flexible use of emergency lanes', high-way-entrance-dosage-systems and 'section control' are implemented and tested. On the main highways more rules and a high level of communication with the road users, seem to be the only solution to fight the numerous traffic jams. The motorists will first be informed, than guided, and in the end they will have to be totally controlled; so every inch of the available road will be utilized.

Surveillance cameras with microphones

A Dutch city in the North of The Netherlands introduced surveillance camera's (CCTV) equipped with microphones that detect aggression and violence. The camera’s start working when they “hear” people becoming aggressive. The software only detects a change in tone in the human voice, so a fear of the system starting to eavesdrop on its citizens seems to be unfounded. But specialists on privacy state that the technical development of new surveillance equipment is so fast that the system barely keeps up with it. Overlooking all the systems that already follow our daily activities and movements in the western world, one has to probably conclude that we already lost the fight for total privacy.

Storm in Europe

On the 18th of January a very heavy storm moves over the West of Europe. While the gusts of wind shake buildings in Amsterdam, SFdrs EU-correspondent Christoph Nufer is stuck in traffic jams on his way to a life stand-up in Oostende, Brussels. The live storm report has to be done in the car.

Activities: research European storm info and data for live report.

11 January 2007

ABC Nightline

Land of giants

Research shows that the Dutch took over the position of the 'tallest of the world' from the Americans. At the same time the second runners up, the Scandinavian countries, stay behind now. ABC News correspondent Jim Sciutto follows a member of the Dutch tall people club to see what it means to be so tall. A tall mother has her thoughts about the enormous height of her 9 year young daughter. She might have to take medicines to stop her from growing too tall. A Dutch anthropologist shows ancient bones to show when and why the Dutch became the Giants of the world.

Faith without fear

After years of preparation and filming, now the editing of the documentary on Islam, with the title 'Faith without Fear', is ready and the last things, people and copyrights of visual archive footage needs to be checked, cleared and organised.

Activities: research and organising video footage, clearing of rights in The Netherlands and in Paris, France.

9 December 2006

ABC Nightline

Land of giants

The London correspondent from the American TV channel ABC wants to know why the Dutch are the tallest in the world. With the working title 'Land of Giants' the Europe correspondent wants to find out what causes the height. Besides the Dutch genes, immigrations history and eating habits, specialists say that also prosperity and well-being play a role in the phenomena.

Activities: research & set-up.

22 November 2006

SF Tagesschau

Dutch national elections

Before and during the Dutch national elections SFdrs correspondent Christoph Nuffer reports on the political situation and the issue’s that play a role in the campaigns. Social democrat leader Wouter Bos, is followed during his campaign for a back ground reportage. On elections day the atmosphere, and information about the outcome and possible coalitions are communicated via life-stand up's.

Dutch national elections

Activities: Research and advise on politicians, parties, issue’s and outcome of the elections for radio reports.

19 November 2006

TF1 News

Immigration policy issue in Dutch elections

Preceding the Dutch national elections, TF1 journalist Françoise-Marie Morel comes to the Netherlands to check out what role the strict immigration policy plays in the upcoming elections. She meets a Dutch Moroccan analyst to discuss the actual situation for immigrants and meets a family from Syria that got stuck in the bureaucratic Dutch immigration system. They ended up in the streets and were found by a local Christian charity organisation. For years the parents with four children wait for answers in a large alternative reception centre run by volunteers.

Activities: Research and set-up, accompany filming. Activities: research, set-up and accompaniment of reportage Bos, research, set-up, advise and accompaniment of live stand up's and translations.

9 November 2006

BBC World

The long term asylum seekers issue

Filming reporter Mike Donkin reports on the rigid Dutch immigration policy, and especially the situation of the numerous long term asylum seekers that still can be thrown out of the country any day. In the campaigns for the upcoming national elections most of the opposition parties plea for a general pardon. At the same time the children’s rights organisation Defence for Children International organised an association of 2300 asylum seekers children without papers, and decided to trial the Dutch state to claim the right to stay. In a village in the northern province of Friesland a large emergency centre for stranded asylum seekers is run by volunteers. Angela from Armenia explains on school that she feels totally Dutch, but fears to be expelled. Her parents are killed and she living in the centre with her grand parents. An family from Azerbaijan is living in a caravan in a garden behind a farm. They feel totally accepted by the local population, but are astonished about the fact the that authorities still do not want to accept them. The volunteer that helps the family is ashamed of her government, and opposes the severe inhuman immigration policy emotionally.

Reportage seminar Global & Managed Testing

With the slogan 'The rules of the game' the international computer consultancy and systems integration company Logica CMG organises a seminar on Global & Managed Testing in the old Van Nelle factory in Rotterdam. For promotion, analysis and internal presentation, reportage footage of the speeches, lectures and participants is needed.

Fighting counterfeiting

The European Commission lately warns the member states that the import of counterfeit goods in Europe is increasing seriously. While China’s production is booming, also the production and export of counterfeit products increases. It is said that famous factories make legal products in the day, and than make the counterfeit product at night. EU correspondent Christoph Nufer comes to The Netherlands to find out what the Dutch customs and a specialised European anti-counterfeit organisation have to say about the increase. Customs specialists give an overview of the counterfeited products coming in via the Rotterdam harbour and the Amsterdam airport. At the end of the reportage a man selling fake parfume on a market is checked by a counterfeit specialist and arrested by the local police.

Long term asylum seekers

A background reportage on a huge illegal reception centre for stranded asylum seekers run by volunteers in the Northern Dutch province Friesland. Caused by the very strict immigration system, many asylum seekers that are already waiting for a residence permit for more than five years are helped by volunteers. Often whole families are thrown in the streets, because the Dutch immigration office does not know what to do with them anymore. Many mistakes are made, with human tragedies as a result. A portrait of a Tunisian/Syrian family with 4 children, that lived for a year in the streets. And an interview with Ali from Sudan, who fled the regime in his home country because of political activities, after which his wife divorced him after arriving in The Netherlands. Now he is waiting for a residence permit, while the rest of his family, except his oldest son, got a status. Volunteers explain why these people need help, and why they give the help.

The Armenian issue

The Swiss reportage program ‘10 vor 10’ gives attention to the fact that in The Netherlands and in France suddenly the ‘Armenian Issue’ is in the news again. In The Netherlands Turkish candidates are thrown off the party list, because they cannot confirm that the murder on the Armenians by the Turks in the beginning of the last century, was genocide. In France a new law is taken on that denying the Armenian ‘genocide’ is unlawful. In Turkey any doubt or critics against the government or system is illegal.

Local elections in Antwerp

A background reportage preceding the local elections in Antwerp, Belgium. After the second biggest party of Belgium, the extreme right party Vlaams Belang (VB) is kept out of the political system many years by the other parties, using the famous ‘cordon sanitaire’, ORF weltjournal wants to know if the ‘cordon’ will hold and how the VB is doing. During the campaign the VB leader Filip Dewinter visits cafes in Antwerp to meet his followers and to speak to the press. His main message: Belgium is undemocratic, since they keep the VB out of the political system. Also the actual atmosphere in the picturesque Flemish town is checked by interviewing a Jewish diamond trader and by portraying a local leader of the Arabic European League (a migrant pressure group that gives their supporters advice on how to vote). Apart from that a Minister of State that was involved with the introduction of the ‘cordon sanitaire’ and a well known VB specialised journalist, give their views on the dangers of the extreme right party.

Dutch fishing quota

Since the Dutch have a special way to handle their fishing quota, the Eorpa program passes by to investigate how the Dutch fishermen work. The Dutch fisherman are often organised in larger companies and together with science they to keep track of the quota themselves.

Platsic bottle production

For an educational program for children between 14 and 16 years old, a BBC crew visits The Nehterlands to make a background reportage about a factory that produces plastic bottles. For the introduction images are needed of Amsterdam.

The church of Scotland in Europe

The regional Scottish broadcaster STV produces a documentary about the history of the Church of Scotland in Europe. Also Amsterdam is included and an old church in a beautiful courtyard in the centre, and its religious community is portrayed.

Activities: research & set-up, accompany filming, driving.

21 September 2006

ARD Tagesschau / Tagesthemen

The toxic cargo of the Probo Koala

In the Netherlands, Amsterdam Port Services attempted to unload a suspicious load of an oil tanker called the Probo Koala, but they discovered it was more toxic, and that there was more of it, than the Dutch company leasing the boat, Trafigura, let on. When the bill for unloading and safely processing the waste grew, Trafigura balked and the Dutch authorities allowed the Probo Koala to cast off toward Estonia, still full. According to insiders, some sludge that had already been pumped off, was pumped back on. A couple months later, the ship dumped its venomous cargo in the Ivory Coast, killing 7 people and injuring thousands. The ARD actuality programs want to know what really happened in the Amsterdam harbour.

The paedophile party

The three main administrators of the Party for Neighbourly love, Freedom and Diversity (PNVD), better know as the ‘pedo party’, organise a press conference in the political hart of The Netherlands, the press centre of the parliament. After the PNVD got an okay from the Dutch election commission to exist as a party, it lately won a court case trying to prohibit the controversial political party. The three man openly admit being paedophile but stress the fact that their party fights for many other points in their program. The PNVD members complain that they do not get much attention from the Dutch media and politicians. They try to stimulate a debate with the journalists present, but only get harsh questions. The main program point of the PNVD is lowering the age limit for sexual contact with adult, from 16 to 12. A child right organisation stresses that paedophilia is abnormal and that this party needs to be prohibited. A doctor treating paedophiles says that they only want one thing and that is sex with children and that the disease is incurable. He can only help to fight the symptoms.

Who do you think you are - Nigella Lawson

The BBC program ‘Who do you think you are’ checks out the past of TV cook Nigella Lawson and takes here around Europe to discover her family history and her ancestors. It comes out the a Jewish family relative was living in Amsterdam around 200 years ago. In a journey along synagogues, archives and ancient city districts, Nigella Lawson discovers were she is originally descending from.

Activities: research & set-up, accompany filming, driving.

10 July 2006

BBC Blue Peter

Blue Peter going Dutch

The BBC children's program Blue Peter decided to film one total program in The Netherlands. The presenters are confronted with loads of Dutch traditions, habits and clichés. Costumed clog dancing in the harbour of Volendam, biking, the flower market and the Anne Frank house in Amsterdam and traditional Ditch jumping near Utrecht are only a few of the hyper Dutch theme’s the program deals with.

The Rotterdam law

For the ARD program ‘Europamagazin’ a SWR journalist comes to Rotterdam to make a reportage about the Rotterdam law. A national law that permits city councils to forbid people with a low income to live in poor neighbourhoods. A young inhabitant in Rotterdam explains that he is happy with his new apartment, that he does his best to find a job and that he does not understand why he might be kicked out of his place. His lawyer explains that this new law is violating European human right laws and that he will fight for his client until the European court. The responsible alderman explains that they city hall does not want the poor ‘Rotterdammer’ to live in his neighbourhood. A concentration of poor people might be bad for inhabitants that do not have much money to spend.

The strict Dutch immigration law

The correspondent of the Swiss TV comes to The Netherlands to check out the harsh Dutch immigration legislation and policy. The new information film for people that want to immigrate to The Netherlands is a starting point for a search for the effects of the policy. The film is offered as an information source when people have to do the immigration exams in an embassy in their mother country. It turns out that the film is pretty paternalistic and that a long shot of a woman with bare breasts coming out of the sea, was the reason to make a censored version for Muslims. A Dutch Pakistani father is fighting for three years to get his wife and son over to The Netherlands and a Dutch Turkish immigration lawyer explains how harsh the Dutch system became. When she takes the correspondent to the local mosque in The Hague, the first generation immigrants complain about the fact that they never got the possibility to learn Dutch and that they are now also forced to do this, paying thousands of euros. In Rotterdam a discussion evening is organised about how to combat the actual Islam phobia and the chairman of the local party ‘Leefbaar Rotterdam’, erected by Pim Fortuyn gives his views on the Dutch immigration policy.

Activities: research & set-up, accompany filming.

9 June 2006

BBC News

Dutch paedophile party

At the day the new Party for Neighbourly love, Freedom and Diversity (PNVD), better know as the ‘pedo party’, since the founders do not make a secret of the fact that the are paedophiles, gets permission to register as a party in the Netherlands, the BBC News produces a background news story about the controversial phenomenon.

Activities: research & set-up.

27 May 2006

ABC

Ayaan Hirsi Ali steps out of Dutch politics

Research for set-up interview Ayaan Hirsi Ali and filming.

Activities: research & set-up.

15 May 2006

SF 10 vor 10

Ayaan Hirsi Ali steps of of politics

Research for set-up interview and organise Dutch documentary that led to the fall of Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

Activities: research.

9 May 2006

RTE News

Women trafficking

In a society where prostitution is fully legalised RTE wants to check what effect this has on the trafficking of women. The issue is actual again because the upcoming World Championsships Football taking place in Germany. The huge influx of men watching the games also cause an increase in the women traffict from the east of Europe to work as prostitutes

Activities: research.

2 May 2006

TF1 News

Cocaine ball swallowers

In France the number of people arriving with balls of cocaine in their stomach is increaing dramatically. The Dutch already have years of experience with this kind of small scale smuggling. They have special jails with special toilets to collect the balls of cocaine. Nowadays the Dutch do co-called 100%controlls to check all passengers on a plane from the Antillian Islands or from Surinam. This is probably the reason for the increase of small scale cocaine smugling in France.

Activities: research.

24 April 2006

ORF Weltjournal

Dutch liquidations

After a new liquidation Alexander Steinbach from ORF Weltjournal comes to The Netherlands to find out more about the long series of criminal murders taking place in and around Amsterdam. It seems that the underworld made its way up into the straight world. Huge criminal profits are invested in real estate via traders and information is leaked by corrupt police. Since the early nineties of the last century dozens of criminals, real estate traders and lawyers have been brutally killed, often in broad daylight and in the middle of the street. Steinbach looks for answers meeting a known and well-informed crime journalist, a criminal law lawyer with a history as a leader of an Amsterdam police infiltration team and a professor of the Dutch Police Academy. They all state that the Dutch criminal branch is turning into a mafia like world, where huge sums of drugs money have to be laundered causing serious corruption, especially in the real estate branch, at law firms and at the police.

Blue Peter

For the filming of a full episode of BBC Blue Peter, the presenters and crew come to The Netherlands in the summer. In and around Amsterdam they will pay attention to 400 years Rembrandt, traditional ditch jumping, Anne Frank, clog dancing and the flower branch.

Activities: research & set-up.

10 April 2006

ORF Weltjournal

Fighting violence on schools

Teachers of a Berlin school with a large percentage of pupils of migrant descent, searched for publicity to express their cry of distress about the tense working conditions. The pupils are very violent, come to school when they want and vandalism is the order of the day. Most of the pupils show a demonstrative lack of interest and a serious hatred against everything that is German. In The Netherlands ´black´ schools are a phenomena that is already known since a while. Dutch organisations and schools developed innovative forms of education to fight violence and segregation on schools and to prepare pupils for the future multi ethnic society. Filming journalist Katinka Nowotny visits a school where the director and teachers managed to change around anarchy to a balanced, disciplined and happy school atmosphere. Obeing a clear set of rules, extra attention from teachers, social workers and coordinators, and the close contact with parents turn out to be vital.

Dutch instruction film for immigrants

For their strikt immigration policy the Dutch created an instruction film for immigrants that want to come to The Netherlands. For the preparation of the exams, now taking place in the mother country the newcommers are introduced to the Dutch culture. Immigrants living in The Netherlands explain that it is not easy and that it is cold. Also girls with naked breasts on the dutch beach and kissing gays are shown. For muslim people a censored version of the film is avaiable.

Portrait of Professor Osterhaus

While bird flu is spreading around theworld and even people die from it, The Netherlands is still free from the virus. In 2003 the Dutch already experienced a severe outbreak and they have Europe's bird flu specialist Professor Ab Osterhaus. A portrait of Ab Osterhaus in the Erasmus University on Rotterdam. The main issue is the danger of bird flu mixing with a human flu virus and how to be ready top fight a pendamic.

Activities: research & set-up, accompany filming & driving.

14 March 2006

TF1 News

Death Milosevic

After the Serbian ex-president Slobodan Milsevic died in the UN-jail in The Hague, the Tribunal loses its main suspect on trial. The world media gathers for days at the tribunal and rumours pop up that Misevic was poisoned.

Activities: research & set-up and accompaniment of several reportages and stand-ups, translations, organise archive material, driving.

12 March 2006

SF Tagesschau

Death Milosevic

After the Serbian ex-president Slobodan Milsevic died in the UN-jail in The Hague, the Tribunal loses its main suspect on trial. The world media gathers for days at the tribunal and rumours pop up that Misevic was poisoned.

Activities: research &organise camera crew.

8 March 2006

TF1 News

The Dutch bird flu experience

While bird flu is spreading around the world and even people die from it, The Netherlands is still free from the virus. In 2003 the Dutch already experienced a severe outbreak and although bird flu is nearby the Dutch still do not have any bird flu case. French news travels up to The netherlands to find out what the Dutch learned from the disastrous experience in 2003. An inspector showswhat measures are taken, the director of the Ministry of Agriculture explains how the Dutch will fight a new outbreak and a couple running a chicken famr show how they try to keep out the destructive disease.

The Holloway case

Around a year ago Natalee Holloway, an American 18 year old girl, disappeared on a school trip on the Dutch Antillian island Aruba. A dutch boy is suspect in the case and decides to visit The States to proof his innocence. ABC plans a background reportage about the boy in his native town in The Netherlands.

Activities: research.

12 January 2006

BBC Scotland

The Uist video tapes

For a documentary Scottish production company MacTV visits a Dutch specialist on analogue video tapes. In his attic the specialist shows on film how he restores a very old format of black and white video tape. Mystriously the images of a film, shot in rural Scotland in the sixties of the last centruy, reappear on the screen.

Activities: research & set-up, accompany filming & driving.

21 December 2005

BBC World

Possible regulation of cannabis cultivation

The mayor of Maastricht is promoting change in the Dutch soft drugs policy. Many local authorities want to experiment with regulated cannabis cultivation. Also a majority in the Dutch Lower house is in favour, but the Minister of Justice is against it and does not support the plan. A reportage about the difficulty to get the soft drugs in the coffee shops - the so called 'backdoor problem' - with a coffee shop owner, a cannabis grower, a Dutch member of parliament who is against new regulations. For the rest interviews with the editor-in-chief of a glossy cannabis magazine and of course with the mayor of Maastricht.

Vincent faux?

After a possible early work of Vincent van Gogh pops up in France, the Dutch Van Gogh museum does not want to give the painting an authenticity certificate. It turns out that there are many more people with possible early work from 'Vincent' that are waiting for approval from the Amsterdam Van Gogh museum. A French Vincent van Gogh specialist living in The Netherlands gives his view, one of the Van Gogh museum curators explains what their policy is and two collectors show their collection of possible paintings from Vincent. The famous Dutch forger Geert Jan Jansen shares his views while he hangs an exhibition of his own work.

Activities: research & set-up, accompanny filming, translations.

9 December 2005

90th Parallel Productions

Islam documentary

In many different locations in the world The Canadian production company 90th Parallel films a documentary on Islam. The documentary is loosely based on a book by author Irshad Manji, called ‘The Trouble with Islam’. The documentary is sponsored by the National Film Board of Canada and Global Television Network and PBS in the United States. This film is a personal journey to see if Mrs. Manji can recover the love she once had for her religion. She is sincerely seeking to learn not to confront and argue. She wants to find ways to reconnect with it. To find answers. In The Netherlands Irshad Manji meets Imams doing a naturalisation course, Muslim gays, a converted Dutch Muslim, a radical Muslim, a Dutch-Moroccan rapper, the Hallal Girls' - three young Muslim sisters that look for things in the Dutch society that are confronting for Muslims, a well known analyst of the Dutch multi-cultural society and of course: Ayaan Hirsi Ali.

Dutch Antilleans in Holland

The Antillean islands are the last Dutch colonial heritage and located in the Caribbean. In the colonial times the islands where used to sell and transit slaves, now the islands are used to smuggle cocaine to the west or for tourism. The population is mostly very poor so many young people decide to try their luck in the motherland Holland. Since they have the Dutch nationality it is quite easy to enter The Netherlands, but once they arrived usually the misery continues. Many of the Antillean youngsters end up in poverty and crime. Some say that the Antillean's are worse off than asylum seekers even though they have Dutch passports. A portrait of baseball club Bantopa in the Amsterdam south East, that offers structure and attention to Antillean and other migrant youngsters. The youngsters can join the club and at the same time follow the special homework courses, so there is less of a chance that they end up in crime.

Dutch bird flu experience

While the bird flu virus even takes human lives in Asia, the BBC Scotland wants to check out how the Dutch successfully managed to fight the disease in 2003. The Dutch poultry farmers are terrified that Bird flu will pop up again. A Dutch bird flu specialist and adviser of the European commission gives his view on the matter and a virus specialist gives insight in the dangers for humans. A poultry farmer that was one of the first that saw all his chickens die in a few hours explains what it meant for him and his family. A new outbreak of bird flu will definitely mean bankruptcy for many Dutch farmers.

Dutch bird flu expertise

While the bird flu virus is about everywhere in the world, and even takes lives in Asia, it is time to check out how the Dutch successfully managed to fight the disease in 2003. How did the Dutch manage to contain the aggressive and deathly disease in a few weeks. Interviews with a virus specialist that was involved in fighting the disease in 2003 and with a Dutch poultry farmer who had to watch all his chickens being slaughtered by they authorities. The Dutch poultry farmers are terrified that Bird flu will pop up again. It will mean bankruptcy for many farmers. A Dutch bird flue specialist and adviser of the European commission gives his view on the matter and a virus specialist gives insight in the health problems for humans.

Activities: research & set-up, accompanny filming, translations.

8 October 2005

BBC Scotland Eorpa

The Delta Works

After the flood disaster in New Orleans a reportage about the actual status of the Dutch Delta Works, the system of dams that is constructed after the disastrous floods in 1953, and that should protect the low lying area’s in the Dutch delta.

Dutch flood danger

After the flood disaster in New Orleans TV&radio reporter/camera man Mike Donkin investigates the Dutch protection against the water and the future dangers the low lying delta might face from the sea and its rivers.

Philips innovation

Reportage for the CNN program Global office about the innovation and its importance for companies.

Activities: research & set-up, book camera crew, direction and interviews.

21 July 2005

ARD Tagesschau

Mohammed B. trial

At the first day the Public Prosecutor will formulate its demands in the trial of Mohammed B., the world press is present outside the heavily guarded special Amsterdam court, called ‘the Bunker’.

Activities: accompany live stand-ups, interviews.

14 July 2005

BBC

The European identity

As part of a BBC documentary series about the European identity, presenter Tim Samuels is looking around in The Netherlands. The section in Holland is mainly looking at immigration and how that affects questions of national and European identity. Tim Samuels is meeting a spokesperson of the Gay Union, a trash metal band, an Afghan family and a coffee shop owner.

Dutch Moroccan youngsters

An in-depth reportage about the problems some Dutch Moroccans face in the Amsterdam neighbourhood where the murderer of Theo Van Gogh lived and worked, just before he is sentenced. Already way before the brutal murder some Dutch Moroccans decided to set-up a project to receive, re-socialise and help young Dutch Moroccans to future education or a job. One of the mentors explains what the problems are and how the system works. A young Dutch Moroccan city councillor gives his views. A coordinator of so called neighbourhood directors gives a tour through his district to explain what problems the youngsters face and what is done, and should be done.

Activities: research & set-up, accompanny filming, translations.

4 July 2005

Clingendael Institute

Instruction film on terrorism

A 25 minute instruction film on terrorism and its European history, and about fundamentalism in Europe. A film to explain Dutch police officers about the history and backgrounds of terrorism and about fundamental Islam in the west of Europe. The goal of the film is to take away ingrained prejudices and to give police officers, that work in a multi-cultural society, insight in the different forms of terrorism and Islam.

The shallot war

The French shallot farmers started a trial against Dutch producers of shallot seeds, and lost it. In France it is obliged to grow shallots directly from shallots. Since the Dutch developed shallot seeds the French farmers tried to bad shallot seeds. After the Dutch seeds producer won the court case, the judge also decided the Dutch should have a say about the matter on French TV. A reportage about the development and production of shallot seeds.

Activities: research & set-up, accompanny filming, translations.

18 June 2005

TF1 News

The Netherlands after Theo van Gogh

After the French also the Dutch decided to organise a national referendum about the future European constitution. A reportage on how the Dutch are doing after the brutal murder of film maker Theo van Gogh What effect did it have on society and what will it mean for the outcome of the referendum. Interviews with friends of Van Gogh, an analyst and Dutch Muslims.

Activities: research & set-up, accompanny filming, street interviews.

9 June 2005

TF1 News

Part-time work in the Netherlands

The French economy is not doing very well. Allthough the Dutch economy is also not doing well many people are economically active. The Dutch have a large number of employees having a part-time job. Especially women. A reportage on how the Dutch part-time economy works.

Activities: research & set-up, accompanny filming.

1 June 2005

TF1 News

The European constitution referendum

After the French also the Dutch decided to organise a national referendum about the future European constitution. Reportages and life stand-up’s before, during and after the referendum.

Activities: research & set-up, accompanny filming, street interviews.

26 May 2005

ARD Tagesschau

The Dutch European constitution referendum

After the French also the Dutch decided to organise a national referendum about the future European constitution, the rest of Europe is waiting for the verdict. When the people of one of the two European states will decide against the new constitution the plan will not work. The ARD is organising a life discussion.

Activities:research interview partners and panel members.

24 May 2005

BR News

Onur Air grounded

After several incidents with airplanes of the Turkish airliner Onur Air, the Dutch aviation authorities decide to ground the airplanes of Onur Air. Reportage about the Dutch grounding rules, the reasons behind the measure and the effects for the travel branch.

Activities: research & set-up, accompanny filming.

23 May 2005

ARD Europamagazin

The cannabis conference

Since the capital of the Dutch province Limburg is confronted with a huge wave of drugs tourists and a vast growing cannabis cultivation branch, mayor Gerd Leers decided to organise a special cannabis conference to discuss all the problems and possible solutions with the neighbouring countries, regions and cities.

Activities: research and set-up.

30 April 2005

ARD Brisant

25 years Queen Beatrix

On April 30, the Dutch queen celebrates her birthday with a huge popular feast day. This year it is 25 years ago that Beatrix came into power. A night and a day of festivities is organised for the Dutch Queen. On her birthday Beatrix gets a special welcome in the Parliament in The Hague. All members of parliament are accompanied by a Dutch 25 year old to symbolise the jubilee. The ARD follows two of the 25 year olds before and during the ceremony. In the streets of The Hague people give their view on the status of the Monarchy and the popularity of the Queen.

The EU constitution referendum

After the French also the Dutch decided to organise a national referendum about the future European constitution. In France the general atmosphere is to vote against the new constitution. In The Netherlands suddenly a majority is against the constitution as well. TF1 wants to find out why. A member of parliament and a representative of an anarchistic movement ae portrayed and people in a shopping street in Leiden give their view.

Activities: research & set-up, accompany filming, vox pops.

22 April 2005

SF 10 vor 10

Dutch emigration

Since the murder on Theo van Gogh suddenly a new wave of Dutch citizens that want to emigrate to countries like Canada and Australia occurs. The motives: Holland becomes to full, there is too much tension in society and better economical perspective abroad. Just like the period after the Second world War, when many Dutch emigrated to the same countries, looking for adventure and a new start. A portrait of a family that is ready to emigrate to Canada. Interviews with a scientist, an emigration consultant and a report of a gathering of Dutch people planning to emigrate.

Corporate film Philips

Philips needs a change. After years of product minded thinking, they need to start marketing the human side of their business. The company Jack Morton produces an internal film to give the new policy a face and a direction.

Activities: advise, location research, accompany location research.

17 April 2005

NDR

Hype TV program poor neighbourhoods

The Dutch TV channel SBS6 broadcasts a program called 'Probleemwijken' (Problematic Neighbourhoods). When a man admits he misused his grandchild, his house is destroyed by angry neighbours and he has to run away. Also riots break out, making it necessary to send in the riot police. The NDR media program ZAPP wants to find out if SBS6 can be held responsible for the damage. For the rest the moral question, if a channel can broadcast a man stating that he is a paedophile, needs to be answered. The spokes man of SBS6 is clear. We want to point out what the problems in some Dutch neighbourhood are. A media professor states that the inhabitants of these neighbourhoods are misused for entertainment.

Activities: research, set-up, accompany filming, interviews.

12 April 2005

ARD Tagesthemen

Terror attack exercise in Amsterdam

The Dutch organise the largest terrorist attack exercise in Europe. The complete Amsterdam Arena stadium and surroundings are rented and on national, regional and local level all involved departments and organisations cooperate in checking if they Dutch are prepared. The scenario is a pop concert where bombs explode and people get killed and wounded. Two thousand volunteers play the role of victims realistically, full of blood and in total panic. Life stand-up for ARD Morgenmagazin and background reportage for Tagesthemen.

Activities: research, set-up, accompany filming, vox pops.

25 March 2005

TF1 News

After the murder on Theo van Gogh

What happened to the tolerant culture in The Netherlands, after Theo van Gogh was killed. Where did it go wrong and where will it go to? Who was Theo van Gogh and why was he killed. Interviews with one of the best friends of Van Gogh, producer Gijs van de Westelaken and with sociologist Paul Scheffer.

Activities: research, set-up and accompanny filming.

11 March 2005

ORF Weltjournal

Links between Vlaams Belang and Antwerp Jews

Although it does not sound very logic, the Flemish right wing party Vlaams Belang is openly showing off that they have good relation with powerful Jews in Antwerp. One of the main common goals is the aversion to Arab migrants.

Activities: research.

1 March 2005

ARD tagesschau

The visa affair

The German Minister of Foreign Affairs is heavily criticised about giving out far too many German visa’s for Ukrainian people. Did the Dutch warn the Germans for this?

Activities: research.

10 February 2005

Channel One

The trans-atlantic rift

The school broadcaster Channel One wants to know what the Dutch youngsters think about George W. Bush and his foreign policy. Interviews with young students, skaters and young tourists visiting a grand cafe in Amsterdam.

Iraqi elections in the Netherlands

Portrait of a young Iraqi women living in The Netherlands on the day she votes in Rotterdam. The material is used for a documentary compiled from footage gathered on the different 'out of country voting' locations in the world.

Activities: research and set-up, book camera crew, direction & interviews.

20 January 2005

ARD Tagesschau

Process Mohammed B.

The first pro forma trial of Mohammed B., the suspect of the murder on Dutch movie maker Theo van Gogh, is held in the ‘The Bunker’; the specially guarded court in Amsterdam. Besides being present before and during the trial, the lawyer of Mohammed B. is interviewed and footage of the controversial Dutch Moroccan artist Rachid Ben Ali is included.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali back in office

After months of absence caused by death threats, the Dutch/Somalian politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali arrives back in the Dutch parliament. A huge media hype arises.

Activities: research & set-up, direction and interviews.

9 January 2005

RTE Prime Time

Footage Submission

For a documentary on the situation in The Netherlands after the murder on moviemaker Theo van Gogh, RTE wants to include images of the controversial film Submission, written by the Somalian/Dutch politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali and directed by Theo van Gogh.

The Dutch Antilles

The blacks, the forgotten victims of the Nazis

Offering short documentary about the role of the black people in Germany during the Nazi regime. The documentary is made by the French RFO (‘Réseau France Outre-Mer’) journalist-cameraman Thierry Ravalet.

Activities: offer documentary to the main European broadcasters.

11 December 2004

ARD Live transmission

Funeral prince Bernard

A portrait of a Dutch military veteran before and during the ceremonial funeral service of Prince Bernard. Hundreds of old veterans gather in large sleeping halls the night before the funeral. The next day they march to their place along the funeral route. For hours they stand in the cold before they can salute to their hero paasing buy in the funeral parade.

Activities: research & set-up, direction & interviews.

9 December 2004

Spiegel TV News

Syrian linked to killer Theo van Gogh

It seems that the killer of Dutch moviemaker Theo van Gogh was very much influenced by a religious man from Syria. The Syrian terrorist already disappeared from Amsterdambefore the murder. Now traces of him are found in a small town in Germany.

Activities: research & set-up.

2 December 2004

ARD Morgenmagazin

Death prince Bernard

After the death of Prince Bernard, ARD Morgenmagazin has a 'live' stand-up at the Soestdijk palace to report about the sad occurrence.

Activities: research, set-up, accompany live stand-up, vox pops.

27 November 2004

ARD Europamagazin

Drive-in coffee shop in Venlo

The Dutch city Venlo decided to finally execute the plan to create a drive-in coffee shop at the German - Dutch border to fight the annoyance of especially German drug tourists in the centre of town. The Dutch Minister of Justice is not very happy with the initiative. He sees more in border crossing German-Dutch police cooperation. For this the police project ‘Hector' was set-up in 2001. At the same time some cities in the south of the Netherlands proposed an idea to the German cities near by, to start coffee shops near the border.

Activities: screen item idea, research & set-up, accompany filming.

16 November 2004

SF 10 vor 10

After the murder on The van Gogh

Swiss TV wants to investigate what happened in The Netherlands, after the brutal murder on the controversial moviemaker and columnist Theo van Gogh. The main question is how the murder influenced the relations between the different cultures. Interviews with a successful and active migrant businessman, a press-officer of one of the Moroccan mosque associations, and a report on a very poplar open day in a mosque in the small Dutch town IJsselstein.

Murder on Theo van Gogh

After the brutal murder on the controversial moviemaker and columnist Theo van Gogh, the Dutch society is in a shock. Islamic schools and mosques burn down and around the murder site people of all kinds of cultural backgrounds are debating constantly. ORF Weltjournal measures the social temperature through the eyes of locals, migrants and analysts.

Activities: research & set-up, accompany filming, vox pops.

4 November 2004

ARD Tagesschau

Murder on movie maker Theo van Gogh

After murder on Theo van Gogh a wide range of incidents and developments take place: Islamic schools and mosques burn down, suspected terrorists are violently arrested, politicians are heavily guarded after receiving death threats and demonstrations are held.

Movie maker Theo van Gogh murdered

On the morning of November the second, the controversial moviemaker and columnist Theo van Gogh was killed in the middle of a street in the West of Amsterdam. One of the last projects of Van Gogh was the film Submission, written by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. In this film veiled women actresses are talking about the abuse and mistreatment in the name of Islam. Both Hirsi Ali and Van Gogh were threatened with death. The film Van Gogh was working on is called 0605, the 6th of May 2002, the day that the also controversial Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn was killed.

Activities: research & set-up, accompaniment, vox pops.

24 October 2004

RTE News

The Cooper case

A young Irish citizen, called Cooper, is found dead on a toilet in a youth hostel in the centre of Amsterdam. Only in Ireland the autopsy was carried out. Why was there no murder investigation in Amsterdam? What caused his death? Was he doing drugs, or was he actually strangled? Many questions to answer.

Activities: research, accompanying filming.

9 October 2004

BBC News

Bomb alarm on BA plane

A British Airways airplane is escorted to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport by Dutch fighter jets after phone calls came in warning for a bomb on the plane.

Activities: organise cameraman, research for information, set up, direction and interview.

17 September 2004

RTE Prime Time

The War on terror

Documentary on the European war against terrorism and the effect it has on the muslim communities in Europe. Shot in Spain, France, England and The Netherlands.

Euthanasia & senile dementia

Under strict conditions it is legal in The Netherlands to carry out euthanasia on people with dementia. The Dutch boards of Attorney Generals decided to stop prosecuting a doctor who helped a patient with Alzheimer disease with suicide. The boards stated that Alzheimer itself is not an indication to carry out euthanasia, unless a doctor can come up with a well-founded case were a patient suffers psychologically and the situation is unbearable and hopeless. A tour along specialists and people that experienced an euthanasia case of a person that suffered from senile dementia.

German shot in Amsterdam

A German man that runs around with a gun is shot dead in Amsterdam . It seems that the victim wanted to be shot by the Amsterdam police. The police may have overreacted by shooting the man immediately.

Activities: research, organise footage of the event.

4 August 2004

Televideo Ltd.

Organise cameraman

Last minute assignment to organise a cameraman for the Amsterdam Football Tournament.

Activities: organise camera man, accompany him into stadium.

19 July 2004

WDR Redaktion Markt

Dutch test rounding off Euro prices

In the Dutch city Woerden a test was carried out to see how the rounding off of Euro prices would work out in practice. It turns out that the use of 1 and 2 Euro cent coins turn out to be too expensive for shop owners.

Holland vs Germany football match

A reportage on the atmosphere in The Netherlands before the European Football Championship match Holland - Germany . In the past the match has been a sensitive event due to some important matches the Dutch lost from the Germans and the emotions still caused by the Second World War.

Metin Kaplan untraceable

Muhammed Metin Kaplan is a Turkish Muslim fundamentalist leader also known as the ´Kalief from Cologne´. From Germany he wants to change the Turkish system into an orthodox Islam state. Since there is a chance that Kaplan will be deported to Turkey the German police decides to arrest him. When they arrive at his home Kaplan disappeared. Since the ´Kalief from Cologne´ also has organisations in The Netherlands, it is expected he escaped to The Netherlands.

Activities : research, set-up reportage, direction and interviews.

20 May 2004

ARD Tagesthemen

Coke from the Dutch Antilles

Since years the Dutch have problems with body packers, mainly from the Dutch Antilles that smuggle cocaine into Europe in or on their body. After controls on the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol so many individual smugglers are arrested that the Dutch juridical system gets stuck. There are not enough cells and judges to process the vast amount of body packers arriving on the airport. The solution: control literarily all passengers from suspect destinations take away the coke and send home everybody that smuggles less than 3 kilos. The big dealers get frustrated because too much coke is lost and the Dutch judges have time for other cases. Internationally the Dutch are criticised for releasing guilty criminals.

Activities : propose idea for reportage, research and set-up.

11 May 2004

RTE News

The Dutch XTC branch

What are the ties between the Irish and the Dutch organised XTC crime? Is it really true that the Dutch are the organiseres of the world wide XTC production and trade? What is the function of Ireland ? Which Irish criminals are doing what in The Netherlands and what are the Dutch doing against it?

Activities: research.

5 May 2004

BR Report München

The 1974 World Cup final

On the 15th of June the Dutch will play the Germans on the European Championships in Portugal . This year it is exactly 30 years ago that the Dutch played the Germans in the World Cup Final. A Dutch writer published a book about it with the title: 1974, ‘We were the best'. The Dutch writer did in-depth research and comes with a lot of new clues that explain why the Dutch played so bad in the dramatic or better traumatic final. It comes out that although the Dutch team played quite well and managed to reach the final, it was an undisciplined group of fun makers that had a fierce lifestyle during the tournament. When the match begun the team was already completely exhausted. The writer and one of the players of the 1974 Dutch national team give insight in way the Dutch lost the final.

Activities: research and organise footage, directing and interviews, research and set up reportage, organise editing suite to view footage, translate interviews, book camera crew and hotel accomodation, accompany shooting.

24 April 2004

ARD Live/Brisant/Tagesthemen

Wedding Mabel & Friso

Live transmission of the wedding of Prince Friso and Mabel Wisse Smit in Delft. After it came out that Mabel Wisse Smit had an affair with a notorius Dutch criminal and that the couple did not tell the full story to the Dutch Prime Minister, Prince Friso had to give up his rights to the throne. A huge wedding is organised in the Orange city of Delft, most of the European Royal families had to miss the festivities.

Funeral princes Juliana

After the Dutch ex-Queen Juliana died the Dutch are in mourning. Shortly after the funeral of Prince Claus now a new member of the Dutch Royal family is buried in the historical city of Delft . Activities: research background information, accompany life transmission funeral, organise live interview partners, vox pops for other programs.

27 March 2004

ORF Weltjournal

Portrait Ayaan Hirsi Ali

The Somalian Dutch politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a striking character in Dutch politics. As an ex-Muslim migrant politician she strongly opposes against the orthodox Islam in the Netherlands. She also criticises the naïve and ignorant way the Dutch handled their migrants.

Activities: research and set up reportage portrait.

22 March 2004

ARD Tagesschau

Route control

After a Dutchman designed the Gatzo meter, the famous speeding camera so often seen besides roads, now an experiment with a new system called route control is started in the Netherlands. A system where different video camera's record traffic over several kilometres highway and a computer system calculates the average speed and sends a ticket automatically after speeding.

Activities: research and set-up of reportage.

11 March 2004

The Sunday Times

Prostitution window portrait

For an extensive reportage about Amsterdam journalists AA Gill and Jeremy Clarkson want to be portrayed in a prostitution window in the red light district for the cover of the Sunday Times.

The Dutch gay marriage

While the Gay wedding is constantly in the news in the United States and gays are waiting in line to marry before it is too late, Holland already knows the legal gay marriage for a few years. A search to check out the status of the Gay Wedding in The Netherlands. The Dutch association for gays and the Dutch Catholic church give their views. A married gay couple explains why they are married and if it is satisfactory. The people in the street make clear that the gay wedding is absolutely no issue in the Dutch culture.

Activities: research and set up reportage, accompany shooting, interviews.

2 March 2004

ARD Tagesthemen

Nuclear spy Kahn

When it comes out that Dr. A. Q. Kahn has been selling nuclear secrets to nations like Iran , N. Korea, and Libya for years, also the stories from the early eighties of the last century it came out again. At the time the Pakistan scientist was working in the Netherlands . The naïve Dutch government gave Kahn the possibility to export nuclear knowledge to Pakistan . After Kahn left The Netherlands contacts of his still organise the needed parts and an ex-colleague was one of the first whistle blowers that brought the story in the open.

Activities: research.

16 February 2004

ORF Weltjournal

The Dutroux effect

Before the trial of Dutroux starts the ORF wants to find out in what way the Belgian system and society is influenced by his crimes. What did the authorities do and how is the reform of the police departments doing?

Dutch waste management

While the Irish do not burn any waste, the Dutch have multi functional clean waste incinerators, dumps for separated waste and even a waste dump to make compost. The incinerators produce clean energy and many durable products. A group of Irish environmental officers visits the Netherlands to have a look at the modern ways of processing waste. The Irish campaign is called ‘Race against waste'. The footage is created in assignment of a PR company for the Irish Authorities.

Rotterdam bans poor people

The new populist party in Rotterdam lately came up with a plan to forbid migrants to settle in some parts of the city. Since it is not allowed to judge on skin colour, origin or religion, some are against the plan saying it is discriminating. Still also traditional parties like Dutch labour and the Christian democrats are in favour of what they call spreading out 'underprivileged' people. The idea behind the disputable plan is to fight the ongoing segregation in some of the poor and backward districts in the bigger Dutch cities. In Rotterdam the council does not want to wait for a change in the law. They are already busy formulating measures. One of the responsible populist Rotterdam alderman explains why the policy is necessary, a social worker sums up the problems of the poor neighbourhood she works in and the effects of the new policy, a Afghan doctor living in Rotterdam with his wife and four kids gives his view on the problem.

Activities: research and set up reportage, accompany shooting, translations.

9 December 2003

WDR Hart aber fair

Euthanasia legislation

Research to find specialised or experienced studio guests for a talk show on euthanasia and the Dutch, Belgian and Swiss euthanasia policy.

Activities: research and organise studio guests.

21 November 2003

ORF Weltjournal

Antisemitism in the Netherlands

The end of 2003 the Dutch organisation Central Jewish Consultation organises a demonstration against the increasing anti-Semitism in The Netherlands. Besides Jewish organisations also Muslim and Christian organisations and members of local councils participate in the protest. Caused by the cruel politics of Sharon in Israel and the second Golf War in Iraq the Dutch Jews say they are confronted with a rise in anti-Semitism. Orthodox, conservative and progressive Dutch Jews give their view on the actual situation. For this the ORF attends a commemoration of the deportation of the Dutch Jews is attended and the premiere of a documentary on the Israeli wall. For the rest a Rabbi is interviewed in his local Synagogue and the editor in chief of one of the weeklies gives his analyses of the sensitive issue.

Activities: research and set up of reportage, book crew, accompany shooting, some of the interviews.

21 October 2003

ORF Weltjournal

Living on water

Half of The Netherlands is situated under the rising sea level. Some of the land in the West is so wet that roads constantly sink in it and the rivers have to process more and more water causing floods. All the water and all the problems with water urge the Dutch to live at and with water the water. How do the Dutch cope with their wet surroundings, what will be the future of The Netherlands and a few examples of special house boats and experiments with flooding houses.

Activities: research and set up reportage.

11 October 2003

ARD Tagesshau

Female German drug couriers

After a German woman is caught with cocaine the ARD wants to know how the recruiting of European cocaine body packers works and what routes the smugglers use.

Activities: research.

28 September 2003

BBC Scotland / Eorpa

Financial problems in Dutch football

A reportage about the financial problems in the smaller football leagues in Europe . Vitesse is a club near the German border. They play in an ultra modern stadium. They had a chairman that spends far too much money. Now they have a depth of 30 million euros. Vitesse is one of the Dutch football clubs that has serious financial problems. A search to find the reasons behind the financial problems via Football club Vitesse, a known sport journalist and one of the members of the Arnhem city hall who explains the value of the club, the future policy and huge financial investments.

Art & revolution

While a crew of Arte is shooting for a reportage on an art exhibition on Revolutions in the Amsterdam Modern Art Museum, it turns out they lost all the camera batteries on the way.

Activities: organise and bring batteries.

14 September 2003

BBC Scotland / Eorpa

Save the farms

2003 is the year of the farm in The Netherlands. The Dutch country side is changing rapidly and since 1940 100.000 from the 192.000 Dutch farms disappeared. The year of the farm especially wants to promote and stimulate innovation in the farming branch. Here the knife cuts on two sides. Some farmers decide to develop new products and services to create more income. For this often the gap between the cities and the country side needs to be bridged. The year of the farm wants to show the consumers that the country side is an important part of the country that needs attention and were you can get high quality products or find quietness, space and beauty. A reportage about the beautiful Midden Beemster region were a farmer receives mental handicapped, were farmers redevelop traditional cheeses and sell their good at the farm and were even a vineyard is set up.

Drug use Amsterdam police

Since the 1 of January of 2003, imams with a temporary permit of stay are obliged to do a special naturalisation course for newcomers. One of the imams in Holland became the talk of the town because he offended homosexuals. The naturalisation course exists of general naturalisation and ten special lessons designed for the holy newcomers. Besides this also topics like homosexuality, the Dutch way of looking at human relations and for example women circumcision are part of the course. The new imams also have to visit a community centre, have talks with personnel of an association for homosexuals and have a meeting with leader of an other religion.

Activities: research.

15 August 2003

ARD Europemagazin

Imam naturalisation course

A majority of the Dutch lower house wants to lift the ban on the adoption of foreign children by gay-couples. This is the result of the discussion that arose after the adoption of a child by the Dutch gay TV-producer and personality Paul de Leeuw of an American child came into the news. At the moment three gay couples in Holland have an American adoption child.

Activities: research.

22 July 2003

ARD Tagesthemen

Dutch gays allowed to adopt children

A majority of the Dutch lower house wants to lift the ban on the adoption of foreign children by gay-couples. This is the result of the discussion that arose after the adoption of a child by the Dutch gay TV-producer and personality Paul de Leeuw of an American child came into the news. At the moment three gay couples in Holland have an American adoption child.

Activities: research.

6 July 2003

ARD Tagesschau

GHB the fluid XTC

GHB is remedy to strengthen muscles and for slimming down. It also has been used as a local anaesthetic for animals and sometimes for humans. Now GHB appears as fluid XTC. Many cases are known were people died from the drug. Even police officers used it in their spare time and died in the darkness of a discothèque. A Dutch report on GHB just came out. In the report 72 users tell about their findings.

Activities: research & setup.

26 June 2003

ARD Tagesschau

Trial Volendam cafe fire

In the town of Volendam ten people are dead and about 130 injured after fire swept through a cafe packed with teenagers. Several other youngsters suffered severe burns or smoke inhalations, and about 20 of these victims had to be taken to special burn units in Belgium and Germany . The fire started shortly after midnight as about 700 people were heralding the new year at the bar complex "Het Hemeltje" (Little Heaven) inside a row of old wooden houses in Volendam. The owner of the bar is trailed in the court of Haarlem.

Activities: research and set-up reportage, footage research and pickup.

19 June 2003

BR / Report München

Cocaine body packers

After the Dutch authorities had to let go a few caught ‘body packers' (cocaine couriers) because of capacity problems, a political outrage came into being. The result is more controls and personnel, more juridical capacity, a new law to put more people in one cell and extra temporary jails. Only in January this year, already 457 body packers were arrested. The Dutch juridical system starts to get disrupted completely. The Germans want to know what the Dutch are doing to fight coke coming into Germany . General views of a special body packers jail, interviews with girls that swallowed coke balls, an interview with the responsible civil servant the Ministry of Justice, an interview with one of the Dutch crime journalists and an interview with one of the Dutch MP's who strongly advises to take all the coke away from all the body packers and then send the smugglers home.

Effects on new smoking law

For a reportage on the effect of the new anti-smoking laws for coffee shops the BBC wants to work with an experienced Dutch digital video cameraman/journalist.

Activities: research.

29 May 2003

ARTE Info

10 years tribunal former Yugoslavia

Reportage on the 10 year anniversary of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) The tribunal was established by Security Council resolution 827 of the United Nations that was passed on 25 May 1993 in the face of the serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territory of the former Yugoslavia since 1991, and as a response to the threat to international peace and security posed by those serious violations.

Activities: research and set up reportage.

17 May 2003

ARTE Info

End of street prostition zone

The city of Rotterdam wants to get rid of the 'disgraceful' street prostitution of addicted women. The approach is called a new concept. The addicted prostitutes will be removed by putting them into a detoxification project; the rest of the prostitutes will be put into a small scale low profile indoor window brothel. The illegal prostitutes will thrown out of the country. Interviews with addicted street prostitutes and the god mother that fights for their rights in Rotterdam.

Activities: propose idea for reportage research and set up reportage.

6 May 2003

ARD Morgenmagazin

Avian Influenza hits Holland

While Dutch chickens are killed by the millions to fight the Avian Influenza virus spreading like wildfire, the first cases of the disease are reported in Germany . One of the first Dutch chicken farmers that was confronted with the devastating disease gives insight in the serious consequences it had and still has on his life. After the traumatic experience, months of waiting without an income follow. It will take years for the branch to recover.

Dutch waste management

The Scottish youth program Higher Geography make an extensive program about urban environment issues in Europe. In the Netherlands urbanisation, air pollution and waste management are covered. The Netherlands is used as a case study because it has problems associated with urban sprawl due to high population density. It has also been extremely pro-active with respect to air pollution and waste management. It comes out that the very densely populated west of The Netherlands has many environmental problems and solutions.

Activities: research and set-up reportage, accompanying shooting, translations of interviews.

20 April 2003

ARD Morgenmagazin

Dutch support Iraq war

The German live program Morgenmagazin organise a transmission from the Rotterdam harbour. While the German nation is strongly against the war in Iraq the Dutch support the US and UK politically. Rotterdam has one of the biggest oil harbours in the world and through this and the support in the second Golf War, they also might be a future target of terrorists.

Activities: research for location, research for interviewees, viewing location Rotterdam harbour, research general information.

9 April 2003

ARTE Info

Dutch support Iraq war

While a new Dutch government is formatted, the United States decide to invade Iraq. The Dutch support the Americans and Brits politically, not military. ARTE info comes to The Netherlands to find out why the Dutch are in the coalition of the willing. A protest of the Dutch peace movement against nuclear arms result in violent riots, politicians and political analysts explain the Dutch position and in a stand up comedian theatre in Amsterdam the American comedians do not hesitate to denounce what they think about their people and the new golf war.

Activities: advise, research, and set-up.

16 March 2003

ABC Foreign Correspondent

Status Dutch society

The Australian ABC visits the Netherlands for an in depth research after the status of the Dutch multi cultural society. A Black school is visited; a Mufty (head of the Imams) is portrayed in his Mosque and during his naturalisation course for Imams. The presenter of the so called Great Integration Show explains what changed in Dutch society, the Dutch Somalian politician Hirsi Ali gives her view on the Islam in the West and an orthodox Muslim reacts on her pronouncements and idea's.

Activities: research, set-up, planning and accompanying filming.

22 January 2003

ABC News

Dutch nationa elections

After the sensation win of the new populist party Lijst Pim Fortuyn (LPF) of the gay politician Pim Fortuyn and after his brutal murder, the ABC comes to The Netherlands to see what happened to the once so tolerant Dutch society. Interviews with party members of the LPF and a political scientist. A Muslim girl in Amsterdam explains the tension that arose because she wears a head scarf and the controversial Dutch Somalian politician Hirsi Ali gives her view on the Dutch society.

Mixed twins

A White mother who gave birth to one white and one black child after a fertility clinic made a mistake has agreed to hand over the black baby to his biological parents. The saga of the Fasanos' babies has highlighted the dangers of fertility treatment and has recalled a similar incident six years ago in the Netherlands . Wilma Stuart fell pregnant after fertility treatment, but it was only discovered that something had gone wrong when she gave birth to one black and one white boy.

Activities: research and set up reportage.

11 January 2003

NDR Kulturjournal

The Get Back Beatles tapes

During the recordings of the album Let It Be of The Beatles, all sessions were both recorded and filmed. Since the first name for the album was ‘Get back' the tapes were called the Get back tapes. When the film Let it be was finished all the tapes were stolen. Thirty years later the tapes turn up in The Netherlands. How important is the find? Dutch Beatles fan and – specialist Azing Moltmaker explains.

Tension in Dutch society

After the populist government resigned the Dutch are organising the second national elections within a year. After the rise and fall of the new politician Pim Fortuyn the Dutch are openly discussing the sensitive issues in their society. An actual analyses of Dutch politics and the economy and a local example of how one can fight the tensions in society. An ex-local politician of a Rotterdam neighbourhood shows what went wrong and what answers they found to fight the problems. Care, attention and the physical change of environment are key words. In the local boxing school youngster get box training. Through this they get extra attention, they develop social skills and they get education.

Automatic speeding control

After a Dutchman designed the Gatzo meter, the famous speeding camera so often seen besides roads, now a new system called ‘route control' is experimented in The Netherlands. A system where different video camera's record traffic over several hundred meters highway and a computer system calculates the average speed and sends a ticket when necessary.

Activities: propose idea for reportage, research and set-up of reportage.

14 December 2002

ORF Weltjournal

Oil tankers and safety

After the oil spill disaster at the Spanish coast caused by the oil tanker Prestige the ORF wants to find out what the safety situation of oil tankers is in general and what the oil transport branch is doing about it.

Activities: research and set up reportage, book crew, organise shooting on oil tanker and in an oil tanker simulator, accompany filming.

14 November 2002

WDR / ARTE

Protstitution in Amsterdam

Reportage about on a prostitute working behind window in Amsterdam and an ex-prostitute now active as photographer and spokeswoman of the Dutch association of prostitutes.

The legalised Dutch prostitution branch

Set up background reportage on the actual situation in the Dutch prostitution branch that has become fully legal two years before, by lifting the brothel ban law.

Activities: research, set-up and meetings for TV-reportage.

26 October 2002

BBC Panorama

Investigating the Dutch chicken branch

Most of the chickens exported from The Netherlands to England are imported from countries like Thailand and China. Some people say the Dutch should be ashamed of the way they produce and especially handle animals. It seems water is injected in the meat to make it heavier. BBC Panorama decides to do an in depth research to find out what happens with the chicken breasts in the Netherlands before they arrive in England.

Activities: research and find several journalists that are used to undercover work and that are prepared to go into the chicken factories equipped with hidden cameras.

15 October 2002

ARD Live / Brisant

Funeral Prince Claus

After Prince Claus, the husband of the Dutch Queen Beatrix dies both Holland and Germany are in mourning. The German Prince made himself very beloved in The Netherlands. German TV transmits the funeral live on television.

Activities: research for background information and organise and accompany interview partners for live program in Delft, find extra interview partners in Delft. Accompany live broadcast.

20 July 2002

ARD Europamagazin

Dutch drugs policy

A reportage on the actual status of the Dutch drug policy in relation with the position of The Netherlands as drug producing and exporting country. In the reportage an organisation that receives and helps addicts, an owner of a coffee shop and a street worker give their opinion on the Dutch situation. The street worker explains how he prevents the use of XTC by informing the target group and by testing XTC pills for clients. The public prosecutor responsible for the fight against production of and trade in synthetic drugs explains how the Dutch organised their fight against synthetic drugs.

Activities: research and set up of reportage, accompany shooting.

26 June 2002

Channel One

XTC in the Netherlands

The American West Coast school broadcaster Channel One comes to have a look at the fight against XTC production, trade and use in The Netherlands. The special Synthetic Drugs department give their view, the immense Rotterdam harbour truck scan is visited, a social worker show how the Dutch care for the users by giving all the back ground information and by testing the drugs. An ex-user explains what the effects and dangers are.

Activities: research, set up reportage, accompany filming, organise stand up locations for presenter, like traditional Amsterdam canal boat and shots in discotheque and in coffee shop.

17 June 2002

BBC News

Removing traffic signs

Suddenly a discussion arises in England to change the urban design. New theories proof that when pedestrians and cars are existing closer together, cars slow down and pedestrians are far more aware what happens around them. The future formula: take away the traffic signs! Since the Dutch already have some experience with the new approach, the BBC comes to see how it works in practice.

Activities: research, set up reportage, accompany shooting of reportage and life stand up for BBC News.

11 June 2002

ARD Tagesschau

Legal prostitution in the Netherlands

Close to two years after the Dutch brothels were legalised the ARD plans a background reportage about the actual situation. Research at organisations that help prostitutes, talks with brothels owners and prostitutes and listen to the ideas and opinion of a specialist that helped writing the new law.

Activities: Research.

5 June 2002

BBC Euro Brief

Migrants in the Netherlands

Driss is first generation Moroccan and born in Rotterdam. After family problems he ended up in a special charity home for Moroccan boys. A portrait of a young Moroccan boy to give insight in the problems third generation migrants encounter after being neglected for years. While the populism of the late Pim Fortuyn is more and more adapted by the Dutch, the natives and migrants do not live so well together anymore.

Dutch soft drugs policy

Two Welsh policemen visit Amsterdam to find out more about the liberal Dutch soft drugs policy. Dutch colleagues explain how it works; a Welsh woman living in Amsterdam explains how she sees it and obviously a visit to a coffee shop, to check out how the Dutch system works in practice.

Activities: research, set-up and planning, accompanying filming.

25 May 2002

ORF Weltjournal

Rotterdam after the elections

After the huge success of the List Pim Fortuyn, the party of the murdered gay politician the Dutch culture is shocked. To find out how the major change in the Dutch political landscape could happen the ORF interviews a migrant journalist and his family, a tour trough a run down area in Rotterdam by a member of the local Pim Fortuyn Party, a talk with the Dutch Moroccan director of a local migrant radio station and a visit to an inhabitant of one of the poorer areas in the South of Rotterdam.

Activities: research, set up and planning, book crew, accompany filming.

15 May 2002

SF Tagesschau

Dutch national elections

News-, back ground reportages and life stand up to cover the Dutch national elections. In a run down area a young Rotterdam family give their opinion about the problems they encounter.

Activities: research, set-up, accompanying filming and editing, vox pops and translations, general production for back ground & news reportage.

12 May 2002

ARD

Gays and elections

What do elderly gays think of the success of the new populist party of the late Pim Fortuyn, the LPF, and the tensions that arise in the Dutch society, especially after the excentric politician was murdered just a few days ago.

Activities: research and set up reportage.

10 May 2002

ARTE Info

Dutch elections

After the murder on Pim Fortuyn and the striking win of his party in the 2002 Dutch elections ARTE makes a series of reportages on the outcome of the elections, the effects of the murder of Fortuyn and the cultural tension that possibly as the cause of his success.

Activities: research and set-up of reportages.

8 May 2002

WDR

Zwischen Krieg und Fritten - UEFA cup final

The UEFA cup final 2002 is organised in the football stadium the “kuip” in Rotterdam. Luck for the finalists Feyenoord since they are based in Rotterdam. The opponent is Dortmund from Germany. Caused by traditional hatred from the side of the Rotterdam because of the bombing the war this might be the moment for riots. A 15 minutes reportage on the two sides. The supporters of Dortmund are moved into Rotterdam and the stadium like cattle, while one of the most fanatic Feyenoord supporters Koos prepares for the match of the decade. He visits the city hall where people line up to sign the register after the killing of politician Fortuyn and the statue to remember the German 2 WW bombardments. Before Koos walks to the Feyenoord Rotterdam stadium he visits the amateur complex of Feyenoord and his mobile snack bar just outside the stadium. Here the hard core fans gather and eat. Since the owner of the snack bar cannot see the football, he listening to the radio, happily jumping around his snack car when it comes out that Feyenoord wins the final.

Elections and the murder on Fortuyn

After the huge win of the LPF party of murdered gay politician Pim Fortuyn in the Dutch elections ORF wants to know what the effect is of this drastic change. A tour along the players: a migrant journalist, a right wing LPF member of the local Rotterdam Fortuyn Party, a analyst, an inhabitant of a run down neighbourhood in the south of Rotterdam and one of the leading MP's of the Dutch Christian democrats give their opinion and analysis of what all has happened.

Pim Fortuyn killed

After the new popular politician Pim Fortuyn is killed outside the popular public radio station Radio 3, the Dutch are in shock.

Activities: research, organise interviews.

4 May 2002

ABC News

The rise of Pim Fortuyn

Since columnist, writer and ‘public gay' Pim Fortuyn won one third of the votes in the city of Rotterdam in the Dutch local elections early March, he is one of the mayor players in the Dutch National elections the 15 th of May this year. A very homosexual outsider attempts to seize political power using hard language, causing the current politicians to be tongue-tied, insecure and divided. Around the Dutch elections the ABC wants to find out how the Dutch are handling the migrant issue after new politician Pim Fortuyn suddenly seems to win most of the votes.

Dutch health care system

England wants to reform its health system. Health correspondent Neill Dickson visit The Netherlands to find out how they organised their health care. Interviews with an English doctor living and working in the Netherlands and a reportage about an expensive private hospital were publicly ensured people are also helped.

Activities: research and setup reportage, book crew and accompany filming.

10 April 2002

ARD Tagesschau / Tagesthemen

Presentation Srebrenica report

On July 15 1995, the Dutch battalion of the UN protection force fled the Bosnian Srebrenica enclave for Zagreb. That same day, the Serbs began massacring Moslims; soon at least 6,000 were dead. Srebrenica mayor Nesib Mandzic recently told a the Dutch daily that Thom Karremans, commander of the Dutch battalion, had totally forgotten the Moslems whom his force were supposed to protect. After 5 years of research the Royal Dutch Institute for War documentation will present their report on the Srebrenica disaster.

Activities: research and set-up reportage.

10 April 2002

BBC News

The Srebrenica report

On July 15 1995, the Dutch battalion of the UN protection force fled the Bosnian Srebrenica enclave for Zagreb. That same day, the Serbs began massacring Muslims; soon at least 6,000 were dead. After 5 years of research the Royal Dutch Institute for War documentation will present their report on the Srebrenica disaster.

Activities: research and set-up reportage, book crew, direction and interviews.

2 April 2002

BBC Scotland Eorpa

The women of Srebrenica

The Dutch Religious Peace Deliberation organisation IKV will organise a series of activities before the Dutch Srebrenica report is presentated. Apart from the publication of the pamphlet 'Srebrenica, the Genocide that was not prevented', the IKV organises ‘The Night of Srebrenica' and invited the 'The women of Srebrenica' and other Bosnian witnesses for all kinds of activities and a quiet demonstration. Also one of the Dutch soldiers of the UN peace keeping force Dutchbat gives his view on the matter.

The coffee shop course

In the Netherlands a course ‘how to run a coffeeshop' is organised for English people since there are more and more rumours that small sales of cannabis it will be tolerated.

Activities: of research for feeding point and -process and accompanying feeding in Media Park in Hilversum.

21 March 2002

BBC News

Hooligans: the game

'The only thing to fear, is running out of beer', is the slogan accompanying a new computer game called ‘Hooligans' designed by a company based in Amsterdam. The aim of the game is to become the most notorious group of hooligans in Europe. The game is just released in England.

Restart Milosevic trial

The trial of the former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has a restart and the ORF needs a camera crew and equipment for a quick news stand-up in front of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

Activities: research & booking of camera crew for stand up in front of the tribunal.

14 March 2002

ARD Tagesthemen

Free heroine

After long talks and a lot of research Holland will finally start some small experiments in giving heroine for free to proble­matic addicts. Apart from this the cities of Rotterdam and The Hague started up so called living rooms for hard drugs addicts, where they can find some shelter and have the possibility to use their dope.

Activities: propose idea for reportage, research & set-up reportage.

9 March 2002

BBC Scotland Eorpa

Teleworking

The Netherlands has the larges percentages of Teleworkers in Europe. Teleworking is being able to work at home like you work in the office. The Dutch Telecom is advertising Teleworking to stimulate people to use Teleworking services. Some companies have build flex offices, the working places of the future. The employee, from the general manager to the secretary, does not have a personal desk anymore. When they come to the office, they pick up their personal trolley, a 'flex-suitcase' with their [personal belongings and a company mobile phone to find a free desk. For teamwork there are the 'island-desks', for meetings there are special conference rooms and for individual work there are the 'cockpits'.

XTC testing

For years The Netherlands is known to be the turn table in the world wide XTC branch. Apart from a lot of production, also the export of the synthetic pills is organised from the Dutch low lands. A reportage on the actual status. Interviews with the public prosecutor connected to the specialised Unit Synthetic Drug, with a specialist of the Ministry of Health. Opposite the fight against the production of and the export in XTC, the prevention plays a big role. Apart from the possibility to bring an XTC pill to a drug centre for a test to see what is in it, for a while it was also possible to test pills on house parties. Safer for the users and easy to find out what pill is on the market. When a dangerous pill appeared on the market, it was easy to warn the public with flyers with warnings. Now the Dutch government decided to stop the testing on parties, since it seems to legitimise the use of synthetic drugs. It is the question if that is a good idea.

Paedophile networks

After the activities of the Belgian Dutroux became public and he ended up in jail waiting for his sentence, again a new paedophile case arose in the North of France. A paedophile network abusing many children. To complete the reportage shot in France, the ORF also wants to hear what the department of EUROPOL, called Unit Trafficking in Human beings & Child pornography, knows about these networks and how they organise the fight against these organisations.

Activities: research + organise interviews at the head office of Europol in The Hague.

7 January 2002

ARD Monitor

Part-time work

For some time the German economy is not doing so well. The State wants to stimulate to people with social security take cheap jobs by letting them have all the tax contributions. Through this measure the authorities expect to create 100.000 part-time jobs. In The Netherlands a large percentage of the work force works part-time. An interview with a specialist of the Dutch scientific board that advises the government, with a part-time working woman and with her boss about the pro's and con's of part-time work.

East European prostitutes

East European prostitutes are allowed to work in the Netherlands as independent entrepreneurs. The ruling involves the case of a number of prostitutes from Poland and the Czech Republic , who had tried unsuccessfully to obtain a work permit in the Netherlands They based their case on a treaty of association that their countries have with the EU. which states that business people from these countries are allowed to base themselves in the EU as independents.

Activities: research & setup of reportage, accompany filming.

26 November 2001

BBC The Winsor Garden

Gardening in the Netherlands

The BBC garden program Winsor Garden will film some extraordinary gardens in the Netherlands. For this a dolly and gripper are needed.

Activities : Organise rental dolly and gripper.

10 November 2001

ORF Weltjournal

Terror in Holland

A reportage about the threat of terror in The Netherlands and the possibility of sleeping terror cells. Interview with terror expert of Europol and of the University of Leiden and a look around in the harbour of Rotterdam – a possible target – and in a mosque to see how they see the new situation after the world trade centre attacks.

Activities : research and set up reportage, book camera crew, accompany filming.

5 November 2001

ARD Europamagazin

Dutch paddos

In the last years many smart shops where established in every city. Interesting outlets of new drugs. Paddo tourism ( Germany , Belgium ) came up. There is a possibility that the Dutch higher court will pronounce a sentence on the status of magic mushrooms (paddos) in The Netherlands this month. Paddos are natural hallucinating drugs, which you can eat or drink as tea. The substances Psilocyne and Psilocybin in the paddo are forbidden, but at the moment the possession and sales of fresh Paddos is tolerated. The paddos are cultivated industrially and sold throughout the country in one of the numerous smart shops. Any processing or drying makes the whole thing illegal.

Activities : research & setup of reportage, accompany filming.

19 October 2001

BBC Liquid News

Stalker Mel C arrested

After years of serious annoyance the Dutch stalker of Melanie C of the Spice Girls is arrested after he threatened her to death.

Activities: research, organise interviewees.

22 September 2001

Wall to Wall / Discovery

Eurocops

Eurocops captures the simultaneous lives of three great European cities over one weekend as seen through the eyes of the police. With a crime happening every two seconds the world is a dangerous place and Eurocops is there to see it for real. Produced by Wall to Wall.

Activities : Research for the setup.

29 August 2001

BBC

Meet the neighbours

For the BBC the Jeremy Clarkson team is producing a series of infotainment programs on the European mainland. The idea behind the series is to give the English viewer a different view on Europe. One day they have to accept that they are a true part of the European Union. Jeremy drives trough Europe in a Jaguar E-type and also the Netherlands is portrayed: canal tours, camping's & caravans, legal prostitutes & brothels, the Dutch reformed church, sex shops, joints, … to mention but a few topics.

Activities : Help finding and selecting topics, research and set up fillming, accompany filming, special effects: a.o. create an gigiantic fake joint.

20 August 2001

ORF Weltjournal

Dutch naturalisation

In The Netherlands not only the authorities organise naturalisation courses for newcomers. Now also companies give the Dutch culture course, including learning the Dutch language, in combination with a job. All new comers get a native employee as tutor. A reportage on the day of the presentation of the diplomas for the succeeded migrant students and an interview with the Dutch Minister of Internal Affairs.

Activities: research and setup of reportage, book camera crew, accompany filming, editing and satellite feed.

14 August 2001

BBC News

Celtic supporter shot

After the football match Ajax-Celtic in Amsterdam, a Scottish supporter gets shot.

Activities: Last minute research to find out more about the status of the victim and the identity of the perpetrator.

9 August 2001

ORF Weltjournal

Legalisation of brothels

A reportage on the legalisation of brothels in The Netherlands. A brothel owner, who already participated in the 1996 brothel toleration experiment, explains how he experiences the new legal situation. Also some of the prostitutes in the brothel give their view. An interview with the press woman from the hooker association and a scientist who accompanied the realisation of the new law gives the in's and out's and pro's and con's.

Activities: research and set up reportages, book camera crew, accompany filming.

5 August 2001

ORF Tagesschau

Wounded Dutch girl

After a Dutch girl gets wounded in a train crash during a vacation in Austria, she is flown to Holland. Organise interview with the girl and her doctor.

Activities: story research, research footage and satellite feeding facilities.

17 July 2001

BBC News

Legalisation of soft drugs

After the issue of legalisation of soft drugs is raise by one of the Members of Parliament in England the BBC comes over to see how the Dutch are coping with their famous toleration policy. The spokesman of the Amsterdam city hall, a doctor of an anti-addiction institute and a coffee shop owner give their view on the actual situation.

Democracy for the elderly

In Nursing home Hogewey in Weesp, the elderly are seen as clients that should have fun in the last phase of their life. In little groups and in their own traditional atmosphere the elderly can still determine their own life. They can take along their own furniture, cook, do shopping, listen to music and decide themselves when they want to eat. Although most of the elderly suffer from senile dementia they are still able to run their lives as independent as possible.

Dutch Ementhaler

Reportage on Ementhaler. Cheese makers, cheese testers and tasters, cheese experts give their few on the famous Swiss cheese. Part of the story is the Ementhaler made outside of Switzerland . Holland is one of the bigger producers. What's the difference in price, production and taste?

Activities: research + organise a Dutch Ementhaler cheese.

30 April 2001

BBC News

Foot & mouth vaccination

Continuation of the non-vaccination policy in the European Union is, according to LTO-Nederland, no longer justified. LTO-president Gerard Doornbos made public this position of his organisation on Friday afternoon at a press conference in The Hague . In the light of the way the epidemic is spreading and the urgent need to control the disease, LTO feel the time is right to influence actively the discussion at the European level. A reportage on the Dutch situation and the discussions.

Activities: research and set up reportage, accompany filming.

27 April 2001

ORF Weltjournal

Legalisation of Euthanasia

A reportage on the legalisation of euthanasia. Interviews about the new euthanasia law with a politician, the director of the euthanasia association, the spokesman of the religious ‘cry for life foundation' and a mother of a patient and a doctor that experienced euthanasia.

War criminal Hoogendam

Due to the fact that he murdered several people in the Second World War, Dirk Hoogendam was sentenced to death in 1950. After the war he fled to Germany and got the German nationality. A Dutch newspaper comes up with his actual place of residence. Extradition is discussed, but it will probably be impossible since Hoogendam has the German nationality. A reportage the little town Nieuwlande in the North of The Netherlands were Hoogendam was hunting for Jews. Witnesses and family of witnesses come up with the stories form the past. There is even a special little war museum in the village. A search for the past of a Dutch war criminal.

Legalising euthanasia

On the moment a new law is approved by the Dutch Senate, Euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands . The German first channel is present with a life program on the morning of the vote. Interviews with a doctor that practised euthanasia and a daughter that saw it happen with their mother.

Old peoples home for gays

Although homosexuality is very accepted in Holland and Amsterdam is seen as the Gay-capital of Europe, it is still a taboo in old people's homes. Elderly homosexuals fear the moment they become in need of care. An ordinary nursing home in Amsterdam established the first 'old people's gay-wing' of the world. Interviews with some of the inhabitants of the first old people home for gays.

Fire in Amsterdam airport

A fire broke out in one of the terminals of the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. It is said that the fire is caused by terrorists in the end it turns out to be tramps that that set the fire deliberately.

Activites: research, life TV telephone intereview.

6 April 2001

ORF Report

Foot & mouth disease

After England, France and The Netherlands, Germany is the fourth country in Europe that is stuck by the devistating foot & mouth disease. A reportage on two side of the border. In the Netherlands farmers, authorities and scientiest are in the middel of a gigiantic effort to defeat the disease. In Germany the farmers and authorities try to prepare.

Activities: research and set-up, book crew, direction and interviews, translations.

2 April 2001

ARD Tagesschau

Tribunal for former Yugoslavia

For an actual development in the trial against Slobodan Milosevic a quick interview with the spokesman of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague.

Foot & Mouth disease

After England and France The Netherlands is the third European country that is stuck by the devistating foot & mouth disease.

Activities: information research and set-up.

23 March 2001

Deutche Welle

The Zorrequita affair

After it became clear that the Dutch heir of the throne prince Willem Alexander was engaged to the Argentinian blonde Maxima Zorreguieta, it also came out that her father had been an important Minister during the dictatorship of Jorge Rafael Videla regime. Maarten Mourik a former Dutch ambassador of UNESCO explains why he started a court case against the royal family to prevent Prince Willem Alexander to marry a woman with a dubious past. The Dutch Royal family already has such a bad reputation marrying the wrong partners and the link with the former dictatorial regime of Videla would be indigestible.

Activities: research, setup & planning, accompany filming.

18 March 2001

BBC News

The demographic time bomb

The upcoming years the percentage of elderly in Europe will increase dramatically, causing huge financial instability. Already now four working Europeans have to bring in the pension of one other European citizen. If nothing is changed in the upcoming thirty years two working Europeans have to bring up the pension of one. the Dutch are working hard on changing the whole working- and social system and on emancipating the elderly. They say elderly have to emancipate and become as independent as possible. Younger people and all organisations have to get used to the fact that they will have to fight more for their society, for example by doing volunteers work once a week. Some Dutch specialists conclude the whole system has to be changed as soon as possible into a socially responsible system to absorb the devastating bang of the demographic time bomb. A few examples of elderly at work and employment agencies that espcially focus on elderly employees.

Activites: research, setup and planning.

10 March 2001

ARD Tagesschau

The Zorreguieta affair

After it became clear that the Dutch heir of the throne prince Willem Alexander was engaged to the Argentinian blonde Maxima Zorreguieta, it also came out that her father had been an important Minister during the dictatorship of Jorge Rafael Videla regime. A tour along a leading member of one of the royal organe society and a critical royalty watcher. Maarten Mourik a former Dutch ambassador of UNESCO started a court case to prevent prince Willem Alexander to marry a woman with a dubious past.

Activities: research, setup & planning, accompany filming.

7 March 2001

ARD Tagesthemen

The Enschede fireworks disaster

At the presentation of the report of the Enschede Fireworks explosion research, the German ARD is checking out how the actual situation is close to one year after the disaster. How is the destroyed neighbourhood doing? How do the authorites cope with reception of victims and the lack of housing? Is the Foundation of the vicitms satisfied about the way the authorieties deal with the situation and with the final question: who is guilty? Only the owners of the factory or also the authorites, by not controling if the rules.

Activites: research, set-up & planning reportage, accompany filming.

22 February 2001

ARD Tagesschau

Philips problems

Reportage on the bad economical situation of Dutch multinational Philips.

Activites: research and set-up interview.

11 February 2001

BBC News

The agro production parc

Mainly caused by lack of space the Dutch come up with a revolutionary plan for new farming. The Agro Prudction Parcs should be situated in Industrial areas near cities and harbours. On different levels all kinds of farming activites should be combined so less space is used, less money is spent and less pollution is accomplished. A specialist of the Dutch Minister of Agriculture states that the way farming is organised these days makes it quite easy to switch to farms in blocks of fltas. The pigs can be kept on the roof.

Activities: research and set-up reportage.

19 January 2001

ZDF Mona Lisa

Dutch brothel ban lifted

On the 1st of October 2000 the Dutch Brothel ban was lifted. Dutch brothels became legal business and prostitutes entrepreneurs. The big question is: does it work? Brothel owners, prostitutes and prostitution specialists give their views.

The Prussian week

Live transmissions from the Netherlands with the Pruissian age as main theme, especially the last years of the life of the German king Wilhelm II. After he fled Germany he waited his death in exile in The Netherlands.

Activities: research and set-up reportage.

19 December 2000

SF 10 vor 10

The forbidden dinner

After huge interest for the first Dutch prohibited dinner, now a last prohibited dinner is organised somewhere in The Netherlands. A secret dinner set-up by food-lovers and experimental ‘chefs de cuisine'. A protest against clean cooking and eating. All the ingredients and the preparation of all courses are illegal because of severe European hygiene-laws. The prohibited dinner is organised by the Dutch department of the Slow Food Movement, an international movement with 60,000 members.. Slow Food is an international response to the effect fast food has and the hygiene rules has on our society and life.

Dutch euthanasia policy

The Dutch Lower house is debating and voting on the legalisation of euthanasia. A family doctor and a daughter of a mother who had cancer explain what ending life means in practise. The Dutch Association of Voluntary Euthanasia explains the working of the new law and a manager of an hospice sums up the reasons against the new law proposal.

Activities: research, set-up & planning reportage, accompany filming.

15 November 2000

ARD Europamagazin

S.O.S. Maluku

In 1975 and 1977 Dutch Molluccans hijacked trains and many people were taken hostage. At the time the hijackers were fighting for their own state. The Moluccan Islands are still part of Indonesia and in the present time horrific massacres take place daily. Cruel Muslim Jihad fighters butcher the Christian minority. The Dutch Moluccans draw attention to the suffering of their people and the silence from the side of the former colonial power, The Netherlands that keep aloof from the tragedy.

Smuggling of Chinese people

Reportage about the smuggling of Chinese people to England. The Netherlands plays quite a big role. Both the truck and the driver of the tragic Dover disaster, were 58 Chinese people died, were from Holland . Many of the transport of illegal immigrants are partly organised from The Netherlands. In Amsterdam a Dutch confidant helps Chinese people with their business. He explains how it all works and how difficult it is for the Chinese that get stuck in Europe . A Chinese family explains how they ended up in The Netherlands.

Activities: research, set-up & planning reportage, accompany filming.

4 November 2000

BBC News

Dutch euthanasia legislation

Doctors in The Netherlands help thousands of people to die each year. But now the Dutch Parliament is to legalise euthanasia under strict conditions. The mother of Nelleke Dumme was terminally ill of cancer and she choose the moment to die. She explains what it meant to her mother and herself. Still many people remain opposed to the new legislation. At the Johannes Hospice they believe they offer a better solution.

Activities: research & set-up reportage, accompany filming.

24 October 2000

WDR Tagesthemen

The Peerbooms case

After the son of the Peerbooms family had an accident with his motor bike he ends up in a hospital. Sadly enough he stays in a coma and after a while the responsible doctor comes with the suggestion that it is maybe better to carry out euthanasia. The Peerbooms couple is shocked and they decide to try an alternative doctor in Austria . The results of the therapy are incredible successful. In The Netherlands the treatment exists but is still experimental and only for people up to 25 years of age. The son is 30 so the insurance does not pay anything. Should insurance companies pay treatments in other European countries? The Peerbooms family decided to go to court.

FC Twente-Bremen benefit match

A few months after the exploding firework factory in Enschede the local football club organises a benefit match for the victims and the surviving relatives. A good moment to find out what the actual situation is. Meeting the inhabitants of the destroyed neighbourhood, talking with the authorities and training with the football players. Some of the FC Twente supporters will never come back.

Activities: research & set-up reportage, accompany reportage.

24 June 2000

ARD Morgenmagazin

Orange fans

During the European Football championship 2000 The Netherlands and their football fans turn completely orange. The Dutch national color. A portrait of an orange café owner and his orange customers in patriotic Volendam, preceding and during the football match Holland – Denmark.

Activities: Research and set-up reportage, book crew, direction and interviews.

18 June 2000

ARD Tagesthemen

The Dover disaster

After 58 Chinese are found dead in a horror truck in Dover, England, it came out that the Chinese were smuggled via The Netherlands. A reportage about the Dutch situstion. Interviews with a stuck Chinese people and a Dutch counsellor mainly working for Chinese clients, to find out more about the smuggle routes and the way it all Works. What are the reasons for leaving China and how could some many people suffocate in a cooling truck. While the Dutch just established a special unit to fight the trafficking of humans, it could not prevent the dreadful death of 58 Chinese looking for a new future in Europe.

Activities: Research and set-up reportage, book crew, direction and interviews.

17 June 2000

BBC Panorama

Englands shame

BBC Panorama follows some of the most notorious British hooligans during their stay in Europe during Euro football championships. Both in The Netherlands and in Belgium it comes out that the English hard core football fans behave extremely aggressive and some of them turn out to be linked to right wing organisations. Hidden cameras show what happens in the centre of Amsterdam and Brussels; ending with a violent climax during the England - Germany game in Charleroi.

Democracy for elderly

In Nursing home Hogewey in Weesp, the elderly are seen as clients that should have fun in the last phase of their life. In little groups and in their own traditional atmosphere the elderly can still determine their own life. They can take along their own furniture, cook, do shopping, listen to music and decide themselves when they want to eat. Although most of the elderly suffer from senile dementia they are still able to run their lives as independent as possible.

The Lockerbie trial

The Libyan suspects of the terrorist attack against an American airplane causing a huge plane crash in the Scotisch village Lockerbie, are adjudged in a special court in The Netherlands.

Activities: story and location research.

2 June 2000

SF 10 vor 10

The fake art museum

When Erna and Henk found out that they had bought a fake painting of Matisse in a well-respec­ted gallery in Amsterdam , they decided they might as well start focusing on collecting fake pain­tings. In the former city hall of the village Fledder, Erna and Henk started a fake paintings museum. From Picasso to Leichtenstein and from Klee to Appel, all the movements are virtually present. The Dutch have a professional tradi­tion in the producti­on of fake paintings. It came out that the first fake Matisse that initiated the museum came from the coun­ter­feiter Geert Jan Jansen , who was produ­cing an incredible amount of fake pain­tings in a castle when he was caught by the French authorities. Another well-known Dutch counter­feiter was Hans van Meege­ren. The couple says that there is a large amount of fake paintings on the market. The official buyers leave the fake ones, which leave them for the fake-paintings-museum. The museum still misses some important works of art, like the sunflowers of Van Gogh for example. If somebody has a spare one the fake museum is very intere­sted to buy it.

Safety Euro 2000 football championship

During the preparation of EURO 200, the European Football Championships in The Netherlands and Belgium safety plays a big role. Some fear the activities of the different hooligans combined with the liberal situation in The Netherlands, were soft and hard drugs are easily available and the police is not know to be very vigorous. The SFdrs meets hooligans, the Hooliganism specialists and has a look at the measures taken in the stadium of football club Feyenoord Rotterdam. The place were the final of Euro 2000 will take place.

The world water forum

Water is often called the new oil of the future. While the population is growing, the quantity of drinking water is decreasing. During the World Water Forum in The Hague 3000 participants deliberate over the use and the distribution of drinking water. The opening speech with the Dutch Prince Willem Alexander, is cruelly disturbed by naked activists protesting against a new dam ruining nature in Spain.

The Bijlmer plane crash inquiry

During the Dutch parliamentary inquiry to find out the truth behind the 1992 ELAL plane crash in the Bijlmermeer area in Amsterdam, many witnesses, specialists, victims, politicians and many others are interviewed. The main questions are: how did the Dutch authorities handle the disaster? What was the cargo of the plane? Was it indeed military cargo? Was the crash site visited by mysterious men dressed in special suits, and if this was the case what did they take? What was the influence on the health of the neighbours and the fire brigades, police- and emergency teams? And what is the truth behind the strange diseases that are reported by some of the neighbours? Several reportages on the preparations of the inquiry and the new developments in the story itself by following and interviewing the local specialists, some of the witnesses and the responsible players of the Dutch authorities.

Activities: research set-up and accompany different reportages, for some of them direction and interviews, translations, organise couriers and accompany satellite feed.

26 February 2000

ARD Tagesthemen

Zero tolerance Euro 2000

While ten orange Dutch fans from the east of The Netherlands take their crazy orange bus to see the test match Holland-Germany in the Amsterdam Arena stadium, the Dutch and German police is preparing a test to see if all measures work and equipment is functioning for the start of the European Championships 2000.

The funeral singer

When he saw Elton John singing at the funeral of Lady Di, he thought: ‘I am not a top-singer, but I can communicate feelings.' For years he tried to become famous as a model, as a Chippendale and as a congratulation-stripper. Now he finally gets his fame in ‘Funeral-country', as he calls the branch. The last year he had around 50 performances besides the coffin. Renewal in the funeral branch.

The Amsterdam taxi war

For centuries the Amsterdam Taxi Service had the monopoly of exploiting the cabs in Amsterdam . It was only this organisation that could give out the expensive licences for cab drivers in Amsterdam . After a change in law new taxi companies appear on the market and within days a taxi war began. Drivers of new taxi's are abused and their cabs are molested. When the Amsterdam police intervenes, riots begin. A reportage on both sides of the battle ground and on the possibilities to solve the problems.

The Wadden sea gas

The ‘Wadden zee' is one of the largest tide-regions in the world and a crossroads of many different migration routes of different 9millions birds. There is around 40 billion cubic meters of gas in the Wadden sea! Since 1994 the dutch are planning to win the natural gas from underneath the Wadden sea. Through diagonal drilling form land. Test drillings where needed for experience and extra facts and figures. The problems are all around the test-drilling. The Minister of economical affairs Weijers already gave the The Dutch Mineral Oil Company (NAM) permission to do the test drilling. Now the NAM is not allowed anymore. Without the test drilling the actual gas-field can not be exploited. The diagonal drilling is risky and the NAM needs to know for sure if it will work or not trough these test drillings.

Maastricht Euro city

In the Dutch city Maastricht the currency and the further integration of the European Union was established. A visit to celebrate the first universary of the Euro. Over the years the city transformed from a poor old industrial city into a modern booming knowledge centre, attracting loads of multinationals and European Institutes. Maastricht the euro city.

Illegal football players in Holland

Worldwide holland is known for its advanced systems in educating young fooball talent. Since the well-known ‘Bosman arrest' the mature Dutch players are leaving the Dutch league for the money and the fame to countries like Spain, England and Italy. The Dutch football clubs are trying to fill the vacuum with young players from countries outside the EU, like Brasil and many different African countries like South-Africa, Kameroen and Ghana . Investigation of the actual situation. Some of the minors are running around without any permit and with a so called frigde contract to cash when they become 18. In the mean time clubs like Ajax and Feyenoord are establishing Football academies abroad in South Africa and Ghana.

Activities: research, set up and planning, accompany filming.

8 December 1999

BBC News

The fake art museum

When Erna Jansen and Henk Plenter found out through a German magazine that they had bought a fake painting of Matisse in a well-respec­ted gallery in Amsterdam , they decided they might as well start focusing on fake pain­tings. In the old city hall of the village Fledder, Erna and Henk started a fake paintings museum. From Picasso to Leichtenstein and from Klee to Appel, all the movements are present.

Activities: propose subject, research.

28 November 1999

ARD Tagesthemen

Hooliganism at Euro 2000?

Background reportage on Hooliganism in Holland . How is Holland , with its notorius past, preparing for the European Football championships in 2000. The special unit, the mayor and the hooligans themsevles. Will it be war between nations?

Activitities: research & set up reportage, accompanying filming.

12 November 1999

SF 10 vor 10

The Big Brother format

More than 1750 people reacted on the request from the Dutch commercial broadcaster Veronica for the TV-program 'Big Brother'. In this program 8 voluntarily participants will be locked-in a house. They are not allowed to have contact to the out-side world for the 3 months the program runs. All the scene will be recorded by around 40 TV-camera's. In the upcoming 6 weeks the producers will select the 8 participants carefully. The first transmission will be in September 1999. The viewers can indicate which participant they like the most. That person wins and get the price of FL. 250.000,= .

Activities: propose subject, research & set up reportage, accompany filming.

29 October 1999

BBC News

Dutch-German police station

Since the beginning of this month Dinxperlo, a village on the Germany-Dutch border, has a world scoop: the first international police station. The idea was born through necessity: the police station of Dinxperlo should be closed because of cuts and the police station of the near by German village Suderwick did not even have their own police station. Now the green-white German officers and the blue-white Dutch officers patrol together in the streets. On the police station itself it says both Polizei and Politie and all policemen are bi-lingual.

Activities: propose subject, research & set-up.

19 October 1999

SF 10 vor 10

Haircut in the office

Since it is getting more and more difficult in Holland to find good personne and people jump form job to job, these days companies that wants to keep its employees have to pay a huge salaries. Even the free car, shares, a free mobile phone are already obvious for the employee. SwinxX Employee Benefits & Incentives is supplying innovative services to make jons attractive. A new business in Europe: complete personal services to keep the employees happy! From a haircut and clothing dresser in the office to a cook at home.

Activities: propose subject, research & set up reportage, accompany filming.

12 October 1999

BBC News

Employment agency for elderly

The employment agency 65+ has hundreds of retired people at It's disposal. Active elderly with a lot of workexperience and wisdom. From highly gifted professors to simple everyday people. Elderly people are still very well employable. They have a lot of advantages: very flexible availability - both in time and in function -, age gives authority, reliability and very important: cheap. No social contributions have to be payed anymore by the employer.

Activities: propose subject, research & set up reportage.

9 October 1999

SF TAF

Save the Tatoo museum

Because of the high exploitation costs and the lack of any financial help, the world famous tattoo cult figure Henk Schiffmacher, also known as Hanky Panky, decided to close down the Amsterdam Tattoo Museum and stop the Amsterdam Tattoo Convention. A huge aid-movement arises to save the Museum and the Convention. Advertising agencies and world famous musicians try to help. They all love tattoos and one of its guru's.

Activities: propose subject, research & set up reportage, accompany shooting.

4 October 1999

SF TAF

Laugh your problems away

Every morning at nine the ‘Vondelpark' in Amsterdam is filled with roaring and howling sounds for ten minutes. Than it gets quiet. Only the fountain splashes. More and more people join the daily laugh-meditation in the Amsterdam ‘Vondelpark'. How to laugh your problems away.

Activities: propose subject, research & set up reportage, accompany filming.

3 September 1999

SF TAF

Underwater garbage collection

Since 8 years the Dive Holland Clean Foundation organises clean sweeps of the city canals in The Netherlands. What started as a small initiative now grew into an enourmous happening where litterley thousands of divers clean kilometers of canal grounds throughout Holland attracting ten-thousands of spectators.

Fight against aggression

It took train guard Ted Boeree two years and a lot of operations to recover socially and mentally after being beaten up heavily during work. In a period where violence in society is a big theme in The Netherlands, Boeree started up an internal service at the Dutch Railways called 'Guard-rail', to help colleagues with the same experience. Besides this a special anti-violence-course, called 'Listen well' was set up for the trainee train guards and maybe even more important, for schools. The course reached around 20.000 pupils on schools last year. Ted Boeree's methods and idea's are getting more and more acknowledgment, both nationally as internationally. He wrote two books and now even an anti-violence song is recorded and a video-clip shot. The text of the song is written by Ted Boeree, a man with a mission.

Effects of Bijmer plane crash

On the 4th of October 2002 an ELAL Cargo plane crashed on an apartment block complex in the Amsterdam neighbourhood of Bijlmermeer. Apart from mistakes in the handling of the aftermath of the catastrophe, it also came out that the plane was carrying military goods instead of perfume and roses. Also the cockpit voice recorder was never found and strange people were spotted on the crash site taking things away. After people started to get strange diseases the Dutch authorities decided for a parliamentary inquiry to try to get the truth above the table.

Dutch euthanasia policy

At the moment that euthanasia is a political issue in Scotland, Professor of the Free Church College, Donald Maccloud visits The Netherlands to investigate the way the Dutch are working towards legalisation. The professor meets pro- and contra family doctors, the chairman of the ‘Life wish Foundation', a c ounselor of the Amsterdam cancer hospital and the widow of a husband definitely choosing for euthansia.

The Bijlmer plane crash report

After months of research the prarlementarian inquiry commission publishes the report on the 1992 ELAL plane crash in the Amsterdam Bijlmermeer. The press, privat researchers and the head of the commisison gather early in the morning around the piles of fresh reports. The expectations, the reading, interviews with the main players.

Bijlmer plane crash inquiry

After more than six years the Dutch authorities start a specail parlementarian inquiry to find the truth behind the EL AL planecrash in the Amsterdam Bijlmermeer. Some of the vicitims just arrive back from Los angeles, where they consulted medicial specialist Garth Nicolson to find out what strange diseases they have. The story of the victims, inteviews with the chief of the healthresearch of the Academical Medical centre, the parlementarian specialist Van Gijzel and following the first hearings in The Hague.

The largest dictionary in the world

The official publicaiotn of the Dictionary of the Dutch language (WNT). Fourty enor­mous books with around 400.000 words. The Dutch language is discribed from the year 1500 till 1921. In the dictionary articles 1,6 million quotes are used. The WTN has 45.805 pages and is easily the largest dicti­o­nairy in the world. The preparations for the WNT started in 1864. When the first linguistic Matthi­as de Vries got the assignment he thought he needed 25 years. The whole pro­ject is drawn out 125 years, 106 years after De Vries died. The editorial staff never used a computer, everything is done by hand. Still scientific- and dirty words are absent in the WNT. There are even words that are forgot­ten, like the word Febuary. The rest of the year is in. In 1999 three extra apendixes will be published with another 25.000 to 30.000 extra words. The Institute for Dutch Lexicology already started up a new mega-project: a scientific dictio­nary that discribes the language of the 20th century. Will it be ready, as planned in 2024?

New old farming

A crofter (traditional farmer) from Scotland is checking out how the Dutch farmers are going back to the basics. Collectively. So called multi-purpouse farming. A farmer familly keeps cows, produce organically and look after nature as well. In the summer the farm partly turns into a camping. From large scale to multi-purpouse. Back to the small farms like in the old days. New old farming in the Netherlands.

Activities: research, production and planning, direction and interviews.

28 September 1998

ARD Tagesthemen

The scool contract

The Olympus College in Rotterdam is sending away the average of three of it's pupils per week. They decided to make school-contracts with the pupils. The school with 1500 chil­dern from around 30 different nationalities decided to use this extreme method, after they came out as the worst preforming school in Holland . 'The policy had to change profoundly, says school director J. Castelijn: 'The teacher more occupied with social help instead with teaching.'

Activities: screen-item idea, research, production and planning, direction and interviews.

12 September 1998

ARD Weltspiegel

The Bijlmer plane crash

Years after the ELAL plane crashing into a highriser in the Amsterdam Bijlmermeer more and more questions come up. Soon there will be decided on a parlementairian inquiry into the disaster. The way the disaster was handled by the dutch, how and why did the plane crash, the contents of the plane, the effects of the crash and the lack of a health research. Interview with parlemtenarian specialist who pushed the subject, journalist and writer of a book on the issue, the privat researcher and the voluntairy fireman suffering of strange long and skin diseases.

Activities: research, set-up, planning and accompnying reportage.

7 August 1998

ARD Tagesthemen

The gay games

Reportage about the opening of the Gay Games: the gay parade. A bombastic parade of botas full of gay and lesbians dancing on different kinds of musci.

Activities: screening item idea, research, set-up & set-up filming.

2 August 1998

ARD Weltspiegel

The first black mayor

A Visit with the neighbourhood with Dutch Surinam mayor Hannah Belliot, the first migrant mayor of the Netherlands, ends with a steelpan concert on a parking lot. A patrol through the neighbourhood with the police and checking out the nightlife of the Bijlmermeer with social worker Guno of resocialisation program ‘Faya Lobi' (Passionate Love).

Activities: screen-item idea, research, production and planning, direction and interviews.

21 June 1998

ARD Tagesthemen

The automatic highway

Half june the Dutch ministery of traffic organised a trade-fare where all kinds of different new high-way-transportation-techniques will be shown on a not yet opened part of a new high way near Leiden . 100 volonteers will help showing en testing the different systems. One of the techniques is guiding cars close to each other so they can drive at the same speed without touching the steering wheel . Also a system will be tested wherein the car is guided automatically over the high way, so the driver can read his newspaper. Car parking by it self after falling to sleep.

Dutch anthem on a beer can

Do the players of the Dutch national football-team know the anthem? Do the 'orange' fans know them? Watching the training of the Dutch team preparing for the test match Holland – Nigeria . Interviewing the players on the singing of the hymne before the match. Travelling with a bus full of orange supporters to the match in the Amsterdam Arena, woodenshoes included. The Dutch hymne on the beercans. A research for the Dutch pattriotism.

Activities: research, set up, planning and accompanying reportage.

28 May 1998

ARD Tagesthemen

Justice in the neighbourhood

In some Dutch cities an experiment called Justice in the neighbourhood' (JIB) started. The idea of J.I.B. is to bring the activities of the Justice department closer to the people. This means that offenders and vic­tims get a more direct and fast treatment around the cor­ner. After a year the officer of justice Mr. Siep Buist under­stands a lot more about the pro­blems of the inhabitants of Malburgen, a run down neighbourhood in Arnhem. So the punishment is not so much based on dossiers any more, but on direct background information through human contact. Besides this the handeling of the case is faster because of the close cooperation with police and the county court. For the rest the JIB stimluates the cooperation with other organisations like the rehabili­tation-department and other organisati­ons: neighbourhood-help-office, social securi­ty department, Childern-protection department.

Fake police

Rotterdam is recruiting extra policeman to walk around in the streets as look-a-like policeman. It is cheaper and faster to recruite fake-policeman and since it is very difficult to see the difference between the real one and the look-a-like, it is reassuring for the citizen. The only difference between the two is that the fake one does not carry a gun.

The flex office

In the middle of Tilburg an insurance company opened europe 's biggest 'flex-office'. None of the 1500 employees has it's own room, desk or archive. The interior of the building looks more like a futuristic museum than like an head-office of an insurance company. The employees run around with a 'flex-suitcase' on wheels and a mobile phone to find a free desk. For teamwork there are the 'island-desks', for meetings special conference rooms and for individual work the so called ‘cockpits'. Even the managment of the company does not have a room of their own. The employees decide themselves when the come in and more and more it is possible to work at home. The future flexible way of working.

Stress in Holland

Form the results of a research last week the Dutch Ministery of Social Affairs concludes that the dutch workers work them­selfes to pieces. The Dutch are European topscorers in stress. Causes are reorganisations and cuts, the rationalisa­tion of workprocesses (the use of the computer) and the increase of communication (again via the computer and of course the terror of being within reach constantly because of the mobile phone). Company doctors explain the patients more often tell them that they rather go home to work harder. Companies even give wor­kers lap-tops to take home. An important reason is the growth of the economy. It's working in small groups, pushing eachother and the goal is: 'making money'. Hip stress-mangement is comming up: the massage-break besides your desk. In April this year the socialist Union the FNV starts a cam­paign to inform their members on the dangers of stress. A medical psychiatrist starts an education for stress-therapy.E­ven the dutch cleaners complain about stress. The dutch go­vernment said so when they started to rule: work, work, work, and the Dutch do so!

Activities: screen-item idea, research, production and planning, direction and interviews.

19 January 1998

ARD Documentary

The meat maffia

Documentary on the illegal transport of BSE-infected English meat through Europe. Cattle breeded in England, smuggled to Ireland where the stamps are cut away. New labels are attached and the meat is sold sold as European meat on the mainland.

Activities: research.

19 December 1997

BBC Scotland Eorpa

The Duch polder model

A reportage on the famous Dutch ‘Polde rmodel'. The deliberation method wherein unions, employers and politicians are solving the economical problems together. Visiting the Dutch stock exchange and computer company Tulip, a talk with professor in Economy Bomhof, and a portrait of Hilco. Living on social security and having a mission. Is the Dutch 'polder'-model a miracle or a myth?

Activities: research, set up & planning, accompanying filming.

14 December 1997

BBC Sctoland Eorpa

Children's daycare centre in old people's home

Two years ago a play group for children between two and four years old, in the Dutch city Leeuwarden, had difficulties to find a new location. Accidentally an old peoples home for lightly demented had space left. The two groups found eachother. Now the young childern visit the "grand parents" on the other side of the hall every day. Since the two generations play togehter the demented old people are more vivid and they even start talking about there own yought. They communicate a lot more and they are less dependant from care because they are occupied with the children. The children are more relaxed and they enjoy all the attention. Usually the childern do not have a lot of contact with their grandparents, because of the project they are more open towards older people. Besides this they develop more social skills and already in an early stage they learn that other individuals think differently. Even the parents of the children are stimulated. They are stimulated to think about there own old age and f.e. about dementia. Since the end of the eighties these kind of projects started to pop up on more locations in Holland.

Helping stranded Germans

Amoc/DHV is a reception centre for stranded Germans in Amsterdam, subsidized by the Dutch and German state. The reportage follows the day of hard drug addicts, heroine hookers and boy prostitutes surviving in Amsterdam. A fight to get lost Germans back on the track. Activities:

Traditional Frisian sailing races

40 minutes documentary on two weeks of tradional clipper sailing in the Dutch province Friesland. The so-called Skûtsje Silen. Living with the Skûtsje-families and the crews. Preparing the old clippers and listening to the stories of the old sailors. From moving the historic boats to the Frysian lakes and the lively contest meetings, to living the races on and around the old frieght ships and the joy and dispair at the finishing line. A historical sailing journey along the Frisian lakes. Starting with calm and ending with a storm.

Illegal in the Netherlands

The Dutch authorities are discussing linking the computer systems of the police, tax office and the social security department When all this information is linked it is easier to catch or 'keep out people without a residence permit. The general view is that people that are in the country illegally should leave. But how? Nobody wants razzia's and discrimination. A series of portraits of people living illegally in Amstedam:. a Tchechenain family with three kids in an industrial squaterhouse, an Armenian conscientious objector and a German street prostitute.

Legalising euthanasia

In Holland Euthanasia is tolerated, accepted and not so much a taboo as in Germany. When will a law be ready? How is euthanasia practised in Holland? Why are so many docotrs too afraid to report euthansia? Rens Potters is very sick and he does not have a long time to live. He is in favor of euthanasia, but is nursed in a Christian dying home. He has to be transported home when he wants euthansia. Rens explains why the euthanasia option is so important for him. The Dutch Association of Voluntarily Euthanasia and the Death-wish Foundation, an organisation accompanying people in the dying provess, give their view. The end of the story is the funeral of Rens. In a canal canalboat his coffin was transported over the Amsterdam canals to his last resting-place.

Activities: research, set up & planning, direction and interviews.

24 May 1997

ARD Europamagazin

The alternative Amsterdam Euro Summit

During the 1997 Amsterdam Euro Summit alternative movements have their own summit called the ‘Platform for a different Europe '. A clourfull Amsterdam journey along tiny political parties, alternative art movements, militant pressure groups against cars, gay and lesbian associations, squaters- , enviornmental- and pro-softdrugs groups from all around Europe.

Holland visit Bill Clinton

Floor manager, local producer and researcher for the American TV-pool reporting on Bill Clinton visiting The Netherlands.

Activities: prepare location, furnish and equip the US-pool complex in The Hague. Select catherer and motor bike couriers. Floor manager for all networks during Clinton visit, managing runners and couriers, accompany catering, general trouble shooting, propose subjects, research & set up reportages, accompany filming and live stand-up's.

11 April 1997

ARD Europamagazin

Dutch rats

In the Dutch fanatic collectors tradition the Amsterdam family Hendriks keeps more than 80 rats in their living room. The animals are all over the place. In cages and walking around. Every day new ones are born. The family visits an international rat- and rodent show, where hundreds of European rat freaks gather to trade and exchange thousands of rats, Russian dwarf hamsters, Egyptian Mongols and Chineese mice. The day ends with a breeding-contest and guess what …the Amsterdam family wins.

Usefull insects for a tasty tomatoo

Dutch company Koppert is the biggest insect-breeder in the world. The company breeds and sells 26 different kinds of predator-insects. Litteraly millions of different insects are growing up in huge, dark and hot rooms. Koppert has insect-farms in France , England , Italy and Spain and joint-ventures in the USA , Israel , Canada and New Zealand . More and more glass-house products like tomatoes, red-pepers and cucumbers are protected by the natural enemies of harmfull insects. In 1996 in total 2 billion predator-insects were used in Holland . Apart from the use for this 'natural insects war', there are Bee's that impregnate plants, so it does not have to be done by hand. The bad image of the tomatto made Koppert and a few tomatoo-producers decide to start producing and promoting the ‘Bio-plus tomatoo'. A tastelfull, enviornment friendly tamotoo cultivated with the help of insects. Koppert was founded in '67 by Jan Koppert, who was allergic to chemicals in food. The producers of chemicals tried to buy the company out, but the three remaining Koppert Brothers are idealistic and want to expand there business.

The Rotterdam harbour fight agains drugs smuggling

The special ‘Hit and run Container-team' comb the gigantic Rotterdam harbour for drugs and other illegal drugs. The search of containers and ships with means of dogs and modern observation techniques and high-tech scan equipment.

Activities: research, set-up & planning, accompanying filming.

18 January 1997

WDR Boulvard Europa

Abortion in the Netherlands

Abortion is a daily practise in Holland . It is even siad that is is all far to easy. Especailly new ethnic minorities visit the clinics regulary. Dutch Minister of Health Borst: 'In special cases abortion is permitted and okay, even when the mother does not want a boy or a girl. But, in general a child should be accepted as it is and comes to us. But the abortion-law also says that when there is an emergency for pregnant women, it is alowed to have an abortion.' No catagories are mentioned. Consciously the law is written without any specific details on the term emergency. An update on the dutch abortion situation.

Activities: research, set up & planning reportage.

14 December 1996

WDR Boulevard Europa

The destruction of 60.000 art works

Between 1949 and 1987 artists received subsidies for delivering their art to the Dutch state. At the start of the, so called Visual Artists Arrangement (BKR), around 200 artists made use of the regulation. At the end of the wild sixties artists occupied the 'Nightwatch'-hall in the Amsterdam Rijksmuseum to demand access to the BKR for many more artists. In 1983 artists burned their art to protest agianst the cuts in the BKR-budget. In 1992 around 3000 artists where supplying art to the Dutch state who had around 200.000 artworks in stock. The state decided to get rid of the arrangement and in advertisements artists are asked to and pick up their work. December 1996 is the last month for the pick up and the BKR-depots are still bulging of art and many artists did not come. The last destination of the subsidised art will be the oven!

Dutch hemp cultivation

Besides marihuana Holland nowadays also cultivates hemp. Already in the 17th century a lot of hemp was grown in Holland. At the time the hempfibre was used to produce ropes and sails. Now farmers start cultivating it again on a large scale. Ben Dronkers has a huge hemp-farm in the north of the Netherlands and Mr. Van Dalen has a special Hemp Ecostore in Amsterdam, called Greenlands. Dronkers: ‘Hemp is the strongest multi-purpouse natural fiber there is! You can use it for many things like clothing, rope, isolation, cattle feed and you even can make petrol out of it. German carproducers use it as environmental materials in cars'.

Poverty in the Netherlands

Since bishop Muskens quoted in an interview: ‘When you really cannot afford it, you should be allowed to steal bread from a bakery', poverty is an hot item in Holland . A huge demonstration against poverty in The Hague and talks between prime-minister Wim Kok and bishop Muskens. An indepth interview with the bishop and a portrait of a familly kicked out of their house after loosing their job, picking up the pieces in a receptioncentre of the Salvation Army in Amsterdam . In the rich Dutch economy more and more espcially elderly, unemployed and single mothers miss the boat. A bishop puts poverty back on the agenda!

Modernization in Dutch funerals

A group of people working in the German funeral branch investigate the renewal in the Dutch funeral branch. The group visits graveyards, a crematorium, a gravestone mason company and a huge funeral tradefair in Utrecht.

Grafitti Finit in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is the most heavist smeared city in Europe. The density of grafitti is even worse than New York and the quality seems to be world famous. The Amsterdam authorities want to ban graffiti from the city and launches the special project 'Graffiti finit'. There is a budget of 2.5 million guilders, griffiti are photographed digitally, databases are set up, sprayers are maped and special cleaning teams clean the city. How to get a city free of graffiti. A reportage on the two sides of the story: Portraits of graffiti-sprayers and of the graffiti police and the cleaners. The impossible fight against "city art"?

Activities: propose subject, research & set up reportage, accompany fiming.

23 June 1996

ARD Tagesthemen

Crematorium Westgaarde opens its doors

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Westgaarde Crematorium in Amsterdam a public information day is organised. The so-called open day. The idea is that young and old can discover what a crematorium has to offer and how it all works. Entering the beatutiful green complex the visitors are welcomed by funeral music preformed by the 'Westgaarde' orchestra and choir. The day is opened by a famous TV-presentor and plans for a Ajax-scatter-field for the ashes (piece of gras from the old Ajax play-ground ) are unveiled. A walking route or train leads the visitors through the complex where examples of graves and urns are displayed and funreal artists present their creations and future idea's. Highlights of the day are the breathtaking laser-ceremony-service, based on 'almost death experien­ces' and the guided tour through the cellars where the ovens are based. Renewal in the funeral branch: Breaking down taboos for day trippers.

The Bijlmer plane crash research

After more and more questiones come up around the ELAL plane crash in the Amsterdam Bijlmermeer, a special parlementarian study group is formed to make an inventory of the effects of the crash. Visiting the lawyer starting different procedures against the Dutch State and airline company ELAL, an eye witnesses familly and one of the family doctors in the Bijlmer. They all have the same message. Many things are wrong: what was the cargo of the plane, why did it crash and why did the Dutch handle the problem so bad.

Activities: research, set-up & planning reportage, accompany filming.

28 April 1996

ARD Europamagazin

XTC in the Netherlands

Because of some XTC-deaths on the trendy gigantic houseparties, the Dutch to state conditions for the organisation of house parties. Besides demands on the availability of water, oxygen and professional advise, the Dutch authorities demands the prescence of a first aid post and a Synthetic drugs testing crew. The test station test pills, speed and other drugs on its ingredients. Apart from the preventive function the pill-market can be monitored and a warning-flyers not to use a specific pill, can be send around in no-time. The Quensday Rave in in the tradefair complex in Eindhoven . Thousands of visotrs , hard core gabber-house-music, laser and a lot of synthetic drugs. Both the Dutch preventive special agent of the dutch police and the head of the health department drop in to see the scene in practice. Interviews with the testers and the users.

Kurdish parlieament in excile

In The Hague the Kurdish parlement in exile is founded.

Activities: research.

10 April 1996

ARD Casa Nova

Cage fight in Emmen

A reportage on the first and last ‘Cage Fight' in the Netherlands. In Emmen multi-disciplined fighters battle a fight with practically no bounderies. Reportage about the fighters, the public, the tournament itself and the moral in's and out's of extreme fighting.

In the midst of our life, we are in death

Reportage on an exhibition on death in society called ‘In the midst of life, we are in death', in the gallery of the Amsterdam art society ‘Arti et Amicitiae'. Curator Harry Heyink: ‘Obviously death plays a vital role in art, but in this exhibition we put the emphasis on the funeral in society. At the moment we have a trend in Holland using the funeral itself as a medium.' Disciplines like philosophers, writers, architects and other kind of artists exhibit in the gallery. A few examples: modern coffins and schrouds, death poems, concepts for new funeral rituals, futuristic death carriages, new desgins for graveyards and crematoriums, new mourning hats and a wide variety of funeral art. Practical creations in a time where death is still a taboo.

The cigar course

A reportage on a course ‘how to smoke a cigar' given in the famous Amsterdam cigar shop P.G.C. Hajenius, and a background story on the oldest Cigar Club of Holland – women included. A sumptuous dinner with the club in one of the oldest restaurants in Amsterdam A tradtional, foggy and smelly story.

Was prince Bernard a member of the NSDAP

Interviewing scientists, researchers and journalists to investigate the notorius Second World war past of the Dutch prince Bernhard. Was the prince a member of the nazi party NSDAP?

Activities: research, set-up^& planning reportage, accompany filming.

16 January 1996

ARD Weltspiegel

Renewal of the Bijlmermeer

Reportage on the renewal of the the famous ideological Amsterdam highriser district the Bijlmermeer. The set-back of the ideal living of the seventies and the search of a solution for the urban social problems in the nineties.

Dating agency for incurables

Job already knows for years he is HIV-p[ositive, now he got Aids. Does not want to hide, he wants to live. Expecially socially. That is why he started a relation agency for incurable patients. When people get love, understanding and support they live longer and die better.

Activities: research, set-up & planning reportage, accompany filming.

25 November 1995

ARD Tagesthemen

Naturalisation course for new-comers

Reportage on the obliged course for new Dutch citizens in how to live and behave in the Dutch society. A group of Turkisch, Morrocan, Portuguese, Iranian and Iraqi newcomers get a combination of lessons in the classroom and practice outside. How does the Dutch society work? In rainy and windy Rotterdam the newcom­mers get a tour along the job centre, the education centre, the immigrants centre, cityhall, public transport and other important buildings in Rotterdam. Including a frightening climb to the very windy top of the 185 meter high Euromast. Some of the subjects in the course: bike-riding, Dutch money, the weather, how to shake hands and when and how to kiss somebody in Holland , traffic-jams, the bombing of Rotterdam in the Second Worldwar, the Queen, housing, healthcare and the customs. Dutch people are straight, hospitable but also Attached to privacy. They drink a lot of coffee, live clockwise and with the agenda. So, always make an appointment when you want to visit a Dutchman. Diner is at 6 o'clock and when visiting the Dutch: take a bunch of flowers. The course ends with a drink in a typical Dutch café.

Experiment to legalise brothels

Anticipating on the banning of the anti-brothellaw in Holland , the Amsterdam council starts a semi-licencing-stystem for the exploiters of prostitution-companies. Juridically this is impossible because the exploitation of a brothel is illegal, but the Dutch steer the well-known ‘pragmatical middle course' of tolerance. The licence-system has to fight the criminal elements in the prostitution branch like, illegal- and minor prostitution, abuse and takes care of the improvement of the position of the porstitute. Checking brothels in the Red Light district with police and firebrigade, applying for a licence at the Amsterdam cityhal with brothelowner Jan Bik and a talk with his girls in his clubs and the other side of the story from Therese van der Helm , a streetworker from the Amsterdam health department: ‘Where will the illegal prostitutes go?'.

The fall of Fokker

Rerpotage on the last days of airplane factory Fokker.

Activities: research, set-up & planning reportage, accompany filming.

22 January 1995

BBC Scotland Eorpa

Drugs tourists in Maastricht

Reportage on German, Belgium and French drugstourism in Maas­tricht . A journey from coffeeshops to coffeeshop. The opinion of the police, to politicians and specialists in Maastricht . How many people visit the border city Maastricht to buy drugs. What do they think of the situation? Where do they come from and how do the Dutch fight them flooding the borders for drugs. A reportage on the differences in approach of drugs in society and the toursim caused by it.

Totes Rennen, Hard drugs in Arnheim

30 minutes reportage on the annoyance caused by hard drugs in the Dutch city Arnhem. Marcel is an addict trying to survive. Since he thinks it is not right to steal, he sells small quantities of heroine to pay for his own use. Henk is the leader of the ‘Dotter-team', a special hard drugs annoyance team that tries to keep the streets clean. A day in Arnhem. Marcel getting up in his “cave” in the charachteristic bridge of Arnhem and Henk patrolling the city at night, interrogating addicts and raiding dealer-locations.

German drugs tourism in Holland

Reportage on drugstourism in Holland. Many Germans visit border cities like Venlo and Arnhem to buy drugs. How does this work in practise and how do these cities cope with this phenomenon. Interviews with the local police, mayors and meeting some of the drugs tourists in the coffeeshops.

Euthanasia in the Netherlands

In Holland euthanasia is tolerated. The Dutch are preparing a euthanasia-law. How does the Dutch euthanasia policy work in practise. An actual research talking with the specialists, doctors, patients, the Minister of Justice and and both the Association of Voluntarily Euthansia and the Lifewish Foundation. The pro's and the contras. How can euthanasia be regulated and legalized?

The Dutch flower industry

Reportage on Dutch bulb- and flower-industry.Cultivation of bulbs on the fields, research in the bulb-lab and the auction of millions of flowers and plants in the world biggest commercial building.

Activities: research, set-up & planning reportage, accompany filming.

19 December 1993

BBC scotland Eorpa

Dutch drugs policy

A Scotisch police officer visits Amsterdam to check out the Dutch liberal drugs system. The police officer meets a Dutch colleague, an owner of a coffeeshop and members of the 'Union for Cannabis Retailers'.

Activities: research, set-up & planning reportage, accompany filming.

31 August 1993

WDR 1000 Herz

Live talk show Dutch drugs policy

German Hardliners against Dutch liberal specialist: a discussion on the Dutch liberal drugspolicy in an European context. A German Christian democrat and a concerned mother traveled to Amsterdam to join a discussion with Dutch specialists a policy maker from the Ministery of Health, a Professor Criminal Law and the head of the Dutch drugs buro. For the rest journalists, police, head of the addiction clinic, etc. A animated discussion in a modern yought hostel, …coffeeshop inlcuded.

Indoor cultivation of cannabis

Reportage on the rise of the indoor cultivation of Skunk, Dutch marihuana. Portraits on private and commercial growers. A look around in the Hashmuseum, the coffeeshops and interviews with a policy specialist, a politician and a police officer.